Pouch, lidded container, and tube

ABSTRACT

A first packaging material includes at least one layer located in both a first region and a second region. A second packaging material includes at least one layer located in both the first region and the second region. An outline of a communication part that extends from the hole to the outer edge of the pouch includes a first line and a second line. The communication part includes a first portion and a second portion. The first position includes a portion where the first line and the second line have a spacing from each other that decreases with increasing distance from the outer edge of the pouch toward the hole. The second portion is located between the first portion and the hole, and includes a portion where the first line and the second line have a spacing from each other of less than or equal to 2.0 mm.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pouch, a lidded container, and a tubethat each include a containment part for containing contents.

Background Art

As disclosed in, for example, PTL 1, it is common to provide an upperportion of a pouch with a pre-formed through-hole, and pass a hangingimplement such as a hook through the through-hole to hang the pouch onthe hanging implement for display.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.    2003-11990

SUMMARY

Hanging a plurality of pouches described in PTL 1 on the hangingimplement requires an operation that involves first passing thethrough-hole of each pouch through the distal end portion of the hangingimplement, and then moving the pouch along a support of the hangingimplement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pouch, a liddedcontainer, a tube, and other packages that allow the above-mentionedissue to be effectively addressed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pouch, the pouchhaving a containment part formed by joining a first packaging materialand a second packaging material together, the first packaging materialbeing located at a first face of the pouch, the second packagingmaterial being located at a second face of the pouch, the pouchincluding:

a first region overlapping the containment part in plan view;

a second region located between the containment part and an outer edgeof the pouch in plan view, the second region including a seal that joinsthe first packaging material and the second packaging material together;

a hole located in the second region and penetrating the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material; and

a communication part extending from the hole to the outer edge of thepouch and penetrating the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material,

wherein the first packaging material includes at least one layer locatedin both the first region and the second region,

wherein the second packaging material includes at least one layerlocated in both the first region and the second region,

wherein an outline of the communication part that extends from the holeto the outer edge of the pouch includes a first line and a second line,and

wherein the communication part includes

-   -   a first portion including a portion where the first line and the        second line have a spacing from each other that decreases with        increasing distance from the outer edge of the pouch toward the        hole, and    -   a second portion located between the first portion and the hole        and including a portion where the first line and the second line        have a spacing from each other of less than or equal to 2.0 mm.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, in the second portion of the communication part, the firstline and the second line are not in contact with each other.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, in the second portion of the communication part, the firstline and the second line are at least partially in contact with eachother.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, a portion of the communication part where the first line andthe second line are not in contact with each other is longer than aportion of the communication part where the first line and the secondline are in contact with each other.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, a specimen cut out from a portion of the second region wherethe hole is located has a mean flexural rigidity of greater than orequal to 15 [g·cm²/cm] in a machine direction, the specimen including atleast the first packaging material and the second packaging material.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, the second region includes:

an outer-edge-side seal extending along the outer edge of the pouch;

a containment-part-side seal in contact with the containment part inplan view; and

a reinforcing part located between the outer-edge-side seal and thecontainment-part-side seal and surrounding the hole, the reinforcingpart being thicker than the outer-edge-side seal and thecontainment-part-side seal.

In one exemplary embodiment of the pouch according to the presentinvention, the reinforcing part includes a reinforcement located betweenthe first packaging material and the second packaging material.

According to the present invention, there is provided a liddedcontainer, the lidded container having a containment part sealed byjoining a first packaging material and a second packaging materialtogether, the first packaging material constituting a lid, the secondpackaging material constituting a container, the lidded containerincluding:

a first region overlapping the containment part in plan view;

a second region located between the containment part and an outer edgeof each of the lid and the container in plan view, the second regionincluding a seal that joins the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material together;

a hole located in the second region and penetrating the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material; and

a communication part extending from the hole to the outer edge of eachof the lid and the container and penetrating the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material,

wherein the first packaging material includes at least one layer locatedin both the first region and the second region,

wherein the second packaging material includes at least one layerlocated in both the first region and the second region,

wherein an outline of the communication part that extends from the holeto the outer edge of each of the lid and the container includes a firstline and a second line, and

wherein the communication part includes

-   -   a first portion including a portion where the first line and the        second line have a spacing from each other that decreases with        increasing distance from the outer edge of each of the lid and        the container toward the hole, and    -   a second portion located between the first portion and the hole        and including a portion where the first line and the second line        have a spacing from each other of less than or equal to 2.0 mm.

In one exemplary embodiment of the lidded container according to thepresent invention, a specimen cut out from a portion of the secondregion where the hole is located has a mean flexural rigidity of greaterthan or equal to 15 [g·cm²/cm] in a machine direction, the specimenincluding at least the first packaging material and the second packagingmaterial.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tube, the tubehaving a containment part formed by joining a first packaging materialand a second packaging material together, the first packaging materialbeing located at a first face of the tube, the second packaging materialbeing located at a second face of the tube, the tube including:

a first region overlapping the containment part in plan view;

a second region located between the containment part and an outer edgeof the tube in plan view, the second region including a seal that joinsthe first packaging material and the second packaging material together;

a hole located in the second region and penetrating the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material; and

a communication part extending from the hole to an outer edge of each ofthe tube and penetrating the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material,

wherein the first packaging material includes at least one layer locatedin both the first region and the second region,

wherein the second packaging material includes at least one layerlocated in both the first region and the second region the secondpackaging material,

wherein an outline of the communication part that extends from the holeto the outer edge of the tube includes a first line and a second line,and

wherein the communication part includes

-   -   a first portion including a portion where the first line and the        second line have a spacing from each other that decreases with        increasing distance from the outer edge of the tube toward the        hole, and    -   a second portion located between the first portion and the hole        and including a portion where the first line and the second line        have a spacing from each other of less than or equal to 2.0 mm.

In one exemplary embodiment of the tube according to the presentinvention, a specimen cut out from a portion of the second region wherethe hole is located has a mean flexural rigidity of greater than orequal to 15 [g·cm²/cm] in a machine direction, the specimen including atleast the first packaging material and the second packaging material.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a pouch, a liddedcontainer, a tube, and other packages that can be easily inserted onto ahanging implement, and are resistant to falling when hung on the hangingimplement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a pouch according to a first embodiment asseen from a first face of the pouch.

FIG. 1B is a back view of the pouch according to the first embodiment asseen from a second face of the pouch.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the region indicated by referencesign B and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pouch taken along a line A-A inFIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for measuring the flexural rigidity of aspecimen cut out from the pouch.

FIG. 5 illustrates the method for measuring the flexural rigidity of thespecimen cut out from the pouch.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary packaging materialconstituting the pouch.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary packaging materialconstituting the pouch.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method for manufacturing the pouch.

FIG. 9A is a front view of the pouch illustrated in FIG. 1A with acontainment part sealed.

FIG. 9B is a back view of the pouch illustrated in FIG. 1B with thecontainment part sealed.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plurality of pouches hung on a hanging implement.

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary operation of hanging the pouch on thehanging implement.

FIG. 11B illustrates an exemplary operation of hanging the pouch on thehanging implement.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a modification of a communication partprovided in a second region.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a modification of the communication partprovided in the second region.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a modification of the communication partprovided in the second region.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a modification of a hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 18 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 19 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 20 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 21 is a front view of a modification of the hole provided in thesecond region.

FIG. 22 illustrates pouches hung on the hanging implement and eachincluding the hole illustrated in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a front view of a modification of each of the hole and thecommunication part that are provided in the second region.

FIG. 24 is a front view of a modification of each of the hole and thecommunication part that are provided in the second region.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a reinforcement.

FIG. 26 illustrates an exemplary method for manufacturing a pouchincluding the reinforcement illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a front view of a modification of a reinforcing part.

FIG. 28 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 29 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 30 is a front view of the pouch illustrated in FIG. 29 with thecontainment part sealed.

FIG. 31 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 32 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the pouch taken along a line C-C inFIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the pouch taken along a line D-D inFIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 37 is a front view of a modification of the pouch.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a modification of the hangingimplement.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a support of thehanging implement.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the support of the hangingimplement,

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a modification of the hangingimplement.

FIG. 42 is a plan view of an exemplary lidded container that includesthe hole and the communication part.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the lidded container taken along aline E-E in FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first-edge seal and thecontainment part of the lidded container illustrated in FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a secondpackaging material of the lidded container.

FIG. 46 is a front view of an exemplary tube that includes the hole andthe communication part.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the tube taken along a Brae F-F inFIG. 46.

FIG. 48 illustrates a method for measuring the maximum value of loadthat a package is able to withstand.

FIG. 49 illustrates the measurements of the maximum value of load.

FIG. 50 illustrates the results of evaluation made by panelists.

FIG. 51A is a front view of a pouch according to a second embodiment asseen from the first face of the pouch.

FIG. 51B is a back view of the pouch according to the second embodimentas seen from the second face of the pouch.

FIG. 52A is an enlarged front view of the region indicated by referencesign G and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 51A,

FIG. 52B is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 52C is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 52D is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 52E is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 53A is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 53B is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 53C is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 53D is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 54A is a front view of a pouch according to a third embodiment asseen from the first face of the pouch.

FIG. 54B is a back view of the pouch according to the third embodimentas seen from the second face of the pouch.

FIG. 55A is an enlarged front view of the region indicated by referencesign H and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 54A.

FIG. 55B is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 55C is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 55D is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 56A is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 56B is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 56C is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 56D is a front view of a modification of the communication part.

FIG. 57A is a front view of a modification of the pouch according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 57B is a back view of a modification of the pouch according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 58A is a front view of a modification of the pouch according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 58B is a back view of a modification of the pouch according to thethird embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to FIGS. 1 to 11B. In the accompanying drawings, for ease ofillustration and understanding, the scales, the length-to-widthdimensional ratios, and other dimensional features in the drawings arechanged and exaggerated as appropriate from the actual values.

As for terms and values that are used herein to define shapes, geometricconditions, and their extents or degrees, for example, terms such as“parallel”, “orthogonal”, and “identical” and values such as lengths andangles, these terms and values are not limited to their strict meaningsbut are to be construed as including a range of variations that allowfor similar expected functions.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pouch 10 as seen from a first face 1 of thepouch 10. FIG. 1B is a back view of the pouch 10 as seen from a secondface 2 of the pouch 10 located opposite to the first face 1. FIGS. 1Aand 1B each depict the pouch 10 prior to being filled with the contents,that is, with no contents contained therein. As used with reference tothe first embodiment, the term pouch conceptually includes not only apouch with no contents contained therein but also a pouch with contentscontained therein.

The pouch 10 has a containment part 8 for containing contents. Thecontainment part 8 is a space located between a first packagingmaterial, which constitutes the first face 1, and a second packagingmaterial, which constitutes the second face 2. The containment part 8 isdefined by the first packaging material, the second packaging material,and a seal where the first packaging material and the second packagingmaterial are joined together. In each of front views and back views ofthe pouch 10 such as FIGS. 1A and 1B, as well as plan views of a liddedcontainer and front views of a tube that will be described later, theseal is shaded with diagonal lines. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, whenviewed along the normal to the first packaging material constituting thefirst face 1, the containment part 8 is located inside the seal. In thefollowing description, viewing a pouch, a lidded container, a tube, orother packages along the normal to the first packaging material is alsoreferred to simply as plan view.

The terms “first packaging material” and “second packaging material”mentioned above are used to merely divide individual packaging materialsfrom each other according to their positional relationship, and are notintended to limit the manner in which the packaging materials areprovided in manufacturing the pouch 10. For example, the pouch 10 may bemanufactured by using a single sheet of packaging material including thefirst packaging material and the second packaging material that areprovided contiguously, or may be manufactured by using a total of twosheets of packaging material including a single sheet of first packagingmaterial and a single sheet of second packaging material.

A region of a package that overlaps the containment part 8 in plan viewis hereinafter referred to as first region 19. A region of the packagelocated between the containment part 8 and the outer edge of the packageand including the seal that joins the first packaging material and thesecond packaging material together is hereinafter referred to as secondregion 20.

The contents to be contained in the containment part 8 of a package suchas a pouch, a lidded container, or a tube are not particularly limited.The containment part 8 of the package is capable of containing objectsin various forms as its contents, such as liquids, powders, granulates,and solids. The contents may be food products, or may be non-foodproducts,

<Shape of Pouch>

The shape of the pouch 10 is described below. In the example illustratedin FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pouch 10 has an outer edge in the shape of aquadrangle. As used herein, the term quadrangle conceptually includesnot only shapes with angular corners but also shapes whose corners arechamfered into an outwardly convex arcuate or curved shape.

The outer edge of the pouch includes a first edge 11, a second edge 12opposing the first edge 11 in a first direction D1, and a third edge 13and a fourth edge 14, which extend between the first edge 11 and thesecond edge 12, The third edge 13 and the fourth edge 14 may be opposedto each other in a second direction D2 orthogonal to the first directionD1. The first edge 11 may be located at the upper side of the pouch 10when the pouch 10 is hung. In this case, the first direction D1 is thevertical direction, and the second direction D2 is the horizontaldirection.

<Seal>

The seal is described below. The seal on the second region 20 of thepouch 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes a first-edge seal 21extending along the first edge 11, a third-edge seal 23 extending alongthe third edge 13, and a fourth-edge seal 24 extending along the fourthedge 14. In plan view, the first-edge seal 21, the third-edge seal 23,and the fourth-edge seal 24 may or may not be in contact with the outeredge of the pouch 10, In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a lower portion of the pouch10 located below an alternate long and short dash line is ato-be-second-edge-seal part 22 b, which is to become a second-edge seal22 later.

<Easy-Opening Means>

The seal on the pouch 10 may be provided with easy-opening means 15 fortearing the packaging material constituting the pouch to allow openingof the pouch. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, theeasy-opening means 15 may include a notch 15 a, which extends from thethird edge 13 in the second direction D2 and penetrates the third-edgeseal 23. The easy-opening means 15 may include a half-cut line formed inthe third-edge seal 23 by use of laser machining, a cutter, or othermeans. The easy-opening means 15 may be formed at or near the fourthedge 14.

<Hole and Communication Part>

The pouch 10 includes a hole 4, which is located in the second region 20and penetrates the first packaging material and the second packagingmaterial. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hole 4 islocated in the second region 20 between the first edge 11 of the pouch10 and the containment part 8. The hole 4 is a hole into which thesupport of a hanging implement described later is to be inserted. In theexample illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hole 4 has a circularoutline.

The pouch 10 includes a communication part 5, which extends from thehole 4 to the outer edge of the pouch 10 and penetrates the firstpackaging material and the second packaging material. In the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the communication part 5 extends to thefirst edge 11 from a portion of the hole 4 located closest to the firstedge 11. The communication part 5 allows the support of the hangingimplement described later to pass therethrough from the first edge 11toward the hole 4. In other words, the communication part 5 is capableof connecting the first edge 11 and the hole 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an outline of the communication part5 that extends from the hole 4 to the outer edge of the pouch 10includes a first line 5 x and a second line 5 y. In the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first line 5 x and the second line 5y are not in contact with each other. The communication part 5 describedabove is obtained by punching out a portion of the second region 20located between the outer edge of the pouch 10 and the hole 4 by use ofa punching die. In this case, the communication part 5 is also referredto as notch.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the region indicated by referencesign B and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 1A, As illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication part 5 is dividedinto a first portion 5 a located near the first edge 11, and a secondportion 5 b located between the first portion 5 a and the hole 4. InFIG. 2, reference sign W denotes the spacing between the first line 5 xand the second line 5 y. The spacing W refers to the distance betweenthe first line 5 x and the second line 5 y in a direction orthogonal toa middle line 5 z running in the middle between the first line 5 x andthe second line 5 y.

The second portion 5 b includes a portion where the spacing W is lessthan or equal to 2.0 mm. For example, the second portion 5 b is definedas a portion of the communication part 5 extending to the hole 4 from alocation where the spacing W is 2.0 mm. In this case, the first portion5 a is defined as a portion of the communication part 5 where thespacing W is greater than 2.0 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first portion 5 a may include a portionwhere the spacing W decreases with increasing distance from the firstedge 11 toward the hole 4. For example, the first line 5 x of the firstportion 5 a may include a straight line inclined relative to the middleline 5 z such that its proximity to the middle line 5 z increases withincreasing distance from the first edge 11 toward the hole 4. The secondline 5 y of the first portion 5 a may likewise include a straight lineinclined relative to the middle line 5 z such that its proximity to themiddle line 5 z increases with increasing distance from the first edge11 toward the hole 4. Each straight line inclined relative to the middleline 5 z may extend to the second portion 5 b. In one example, each ofthe straight lines inclined relative to the middle line 5 z may reachthe hole 4. In this case, the second portion 5 b likewise includes aportion where the spacing W decreases with increasing distance from thefirst edge 11 toward the hole 4.

In FIG. 2, reference sign W1 denotes the spacing between the first line5 x and the second line 5 y at a location where the first portion 5 aconnects with the first edge 11. Reference sign W2 denotes the spacingbetween the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y at a location wherethe second portion 5 b connects with the hole 4. The spacing W1 isgreater than the spacing W2.

The spacing W1 is dimensioned such that the hanging implement on whichto hang the pouch 10 can easily enter the communication part 5. Thespacing W1 is, for example, greater than or equal to 2.0 mm. The spacingW1 may be greater than or equal to 3.0 mm, or may be greater than orequal to 4.0 mm. An excessively large spacing W1, however, reduces thearea of the second region 20 located between the first edge 11 and thehole 4. This makes the second region 20 more prone to deformation. Withthis in mind, the spacing W1 may be less than or equal to 10.0 mm, maybe less than or equal to 8.0 mm, or may be less than or equal to 6.0 mm.

The spacing W2 is dimensioned to prevent or inhibit the hangingimplement inserted in the hole 4 from passing through the communicationpart 5 due to the self-weight of the pouch 10. The spacing W2 is, forexample, less than or equal to 2.0 mm. The spacing W2 may be less thanor equal to 1.5 mm, may be less than or equal to 1.0 mm, or may be lessthan or equal to 0.5 mm. Setting the spacing W2 to less than or equal to2 mm makes it possible to prevent or inhibit the second region 20 facingthe second portion 5 b and in contact with the hanging implement fromtwisting and thus allowing the hanging implement to pass through thecommunication part 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y mayinclude a curved portion 5 c. The curved portion 5 c may define thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y at the location where the firstportion 5 a connects with the first edge 11. The curved portion 5 c iscurved to be convex toward the first edge 11. The presence of the curvedportion 5 c described above facilitates entry of the hanging implementinto the communication part 5.

The curvature radius R of the curved portion 5 c at the location wherethe first portion 5 a connects with the first edge 11 is, for example,greater than or equal to 3.0 mm. The curvature radius R may be greaterthan or equal to 4.0 mm, or may be greater than or equal to 5.0 mm.Further, the curvature radius R of the curved portion 5 c at thelocation where the first portion 5 a connects with the first edge 11 maybe less than or equal to 10.0 mm, may be less than or equal to 8.0 mm,or may be less than or equal to 6.0 mm.

In FIG. 2, reference signs L1 and L2 respectively denote the length ofthe first portion 5 a and the length of the second portion 5 b in adirection in which the middle line 5 z extends. As illustrated in FIG.2, the length L1 of the first portion 5 a may be greater than the lengthL2 of the second portion 5 b. For example, the length L1 of the firstportion 5 a may be greater than LU times, may be greater than or equalto L1 times, may be greater than or equal to 1.2 times, or may begreater than or equal to 1.5 times the length L2 of the second portion 5b, Alternatively, although not illustrated, the length L1 of the firstportion 5 a may be less than the length L2 of the second portion 5 b.For example, the length L1 of the first portion 5 a may be less than 1.0times, may be less than or equal to 0.9 times, may be less than or equalto 0.8 times, or may be less than or equal to 0.6 times the length L2 ofthe second portion 5 b.

Upon hanging the pouch 10 on the hanging implement, a portion of thepackaging material constituting the pouch 10 and located around theperiphery of each of the hole 4 and the communication part 5 receives areaction force from the hanging implement that is caused by theself-weight of the pouch 10. At this time, if the packaging material hasa small strength relative to the force exerted from the hangingimplement, this may result in the package material undergoing, forexample, deformation or cracking. This may cause the pouch 10 to falloff the hanging implement. With this in mind, the second region 20 ofthe pouch 10 may include a reinforcing part 21 a,

<Reinforcing Part>

In the example illustrated in FIGS., 1A and 1B, two dashed linesextending in the second direction D2 in an upper portion of the pouch 10represent the upper and lower ends of the reinforcing part 21 a. Thereinforcing part 21 a is located in the first-edge seal 21 where thehole 4 is provided. The presence of the reinforcing part 21 a makes itpossible to increase the strength of the pouch 10 around the peripheryof each of the hole 4 and the communication part 5. This helps toprevent or inhibit the pouch 10 from undergoing, for example,deformation or cracking.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 13, the reinforcing part 21 a may belocated between an outer-edge-side seal 21 b and a containment-part-sideseal 21 c. The outer-edge-side seal 21 b is a seal extending along thefirst edge 11 of the pouch 10. The outer-edge-side seal 21 b may or maynot in contact with the first edge 11 in plan view. Thecontainment-part-side seal 21 c is a seal that is in contact thecontainment part 8 in plan view. The reinforcing part 21 a, theouter-edge-side seal 21 b, and the containment-part-side seal 21 cconstitute the first-edge seal 21.

The reinforcing part 21 a surrounds the hole 4 in plan view. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the reinforcing part 21 a may extend inthe second direction D2 so as to reach the third edge 13 and the fourthedge 14.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the second region 20 of the pouchtaken along a line A-A in FIG. 1A. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thereinforcing part 21 a is thicker than the outer-edge-side seal 21 b andthe containment-part-side seal 21 c. The difference between thethickness T3 of the reinforcing part 21 a and each of the thickness T4of the outer-edge-side seal 21 h and the thickness T5 of thecontainment-part-side seal 21 c is, for example, greater than or equalto 50 μm. The above-mentioned difference may be greater than or equal to70 μm, or may be greater than or equal to 100 μm.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the reinforcing part 21 a may include areinforcement 55 located between the inner face of a first packagingmaterial 30A constituting the first face 1, and the inner face of asecond packaging material 30B constituting the second face 2. In theouter-edge-side seal 21 b and the containment-part-side seal 21 c, theinner face of the first packaging material 30A and the inner face of thesecond packaging material 30B may be joined together. This configurationallows the reinforcing part 21 a to have a thickness that is greaterthan the thickness T4 of the outer-edge-side seal 21 b and the thicknessT5 of the containment-part-side seal 21 c by an amount equal to thethickness of the reinforcement 55. The term “inner face” refers to aface of a packaging material such as the first packaging material 30A orthe second packaging material 30B that is located adjacent to thecontainment part 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first packaging material 30A may include afirst base layer 51, and a first sealant layer 61 located adjacent tothe inner face of the first base layer 51, The second packaging material30B may include a second base layer 52, and a second sealant layer 62located adjacent to the inner face of the second base layer 52. In theouter-edge-side seal 21 b and the containment-part-side seal 21 c, thefirst sealant layer 61 of the first packaging material 30A, and thesecond sealant layer 62 of the second packaging material 30B may bejoined together. For example, the first sealant layer 61 and the secondsealant layer 62 may be integrated together through a heat seal process.

In the reinforcing part 21 a, the first sealant layer 61 of the firstpackaging material 30A, and the second sealant layer 62 of the secondpackaging material 30B may be joined to the reinforcement 55, Forexample, the first sealant layer 61, the reinforcement 55, and thesecond sealant layer 62 may be integrated together through a heat sealprocess. Alternatively, the first sealant layer 61 and the reinforcement55 may not be joined together. The second sealant layer 62 and thereinforcement 55 may not be joined together. Even in such cases, thereinforcing part 21 a is sandwiched between the outer-edge-side seal 21b and the containment-part-side seal 21 c in plan view, and thus in thereinforcing part 21 a, the spacing between the inner face of the firstpackaging material 30A and the inner face of the second packagingmaterial 30B can be limited to be within a predetermined range.

Suitable exemplary materials for a type of the reinforcement 55 that isjoined to the first sealant layer 61 and the second sealant layer 62include materials described later as exemplary materials for the firstsealant layer 61. Suitable exemplary materials for a type of thereinforcement 55 that is not joined to the first sealant layer 61 andthe second sealant layer 62 include: films or sheets made of, forexample, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, orpolypropylene; and paper. The thickness of the reinforcement 55 is, forexample, greater than or equal to 50 μm. The thickness of thereinforcement 55 may be greater than or equal to 70 μm, or may begreater than or equal to 100 urn. The thickness of the reinforcement 55may be less than or equal to 1000 μm, may be less than or equal to 500μm, or may be less than or equal to 300 μm.

For a case where the reinforcement 55 is joined to the first sealantlayer 61 and the second sealant layer 62, the reinforcement 55, and thefirst sealant layer 61 and the second sealant layer 62 may form anintegral sealing layer in the reinforcing part 21 a. The first sealantlayer 61 and the second sealant layer 62 may form an integral sealinglayer in the outer-edge-side seal 21 b and the containment-part-sideseal 21 c, In FIG. 3, reference sign T1 denotes the thickness of thesealing layer located in the reinforcing part 21 a. Reference sign T2denotes the thickness of the sealing layer located in theouter-edge-side seal 21 b and the containment-part-side seal 21 c. Thethickness T1 is greater than the thickness 12. To ensure that thereinforcing part 21 a retains sufficient strength, the thickness T1 ofthe sealing layer in the reinforcing part 21 a is preferably greaterthan or equal to 100 atm. The sealing layer in the outer-edge-side seal21 b, and the sealing layer in the containment-part-side seal 21 c aresubstantially equal to each other in thickness. For example, thethickness T1 of the sealing layer in the reinforcing part 21 a may be136 μm, and the thickness T2 of the sealing layer in each of theouter-edge-side seal 21 b and the containment-part-side seal 21 c may be36 μm.

For a case where the reinforcement 55 is joined to the first sealantlayer 61 and the second sealant layer 62, the reinforcing part 21 a mayhave a layer structure represented below.

first base layer/sealing layer/second base layer

As described above, the sealing layer is formed by the first sealantlayer 61, the reinforcing part 21 a, and the second sealant layer 62.

For a case where the reinforcement 55 is not joined to the first sealantlayer 61 and the second sealant layer 62, the reinforcing part 21 a mayhave a layer structure represented below.

first base layer/sealing layer/reinforcement/sealing layer/second baselayer

The sealing layer adjacent to the first base layer is formed by thefirst sealant layer 61. The sealing layer adjacent to the second baselayer is formed by the second sealant layer 62.

<Strength of Second Region>

Reference is now made to preferred mechanical characteristics possessedby the second region 20 that is provided with the hole 4. Preferably, aportion of the second region 20 where the hole 4 is located has apredetermined flexural rigidity in at least one direction. For example,the above-mentioned portion preferably has a mean flexural rigidity ofgreater than or equal to 15 g·cm²/cm. The above-mentioned portionpreferably has an initial flexural rigidity of preferably greater thanor equal to 22 g·cm²/cm.

Flexural rigidity is a parameter representing a measure of the stiffnessof a film. Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 5 to describe a methodfor measuring flexural rigidity.

To measure flexural rigidity, first, a specimen 80 is cut out from aportion of the second region 20 that has the same layer structure as theportion of the second region 20 where the hole 4 is located. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the specimen 80 has the shape of a square withsides each having a length M1. The length M1 is 10 mm. The direction ofeach side of the specimen 80 is set in accordance with the direction inwhich to measure flexural rigidity. For example, for a case whereflexural rigidity is to be measured in the second direction D2, which isthe machine direction of the pouch 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A, thespecimen 80 includes sides extending in parallel to the second directionD2.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4, opposing sides of the specimen80 are held by using a first clamp 86 and a second clamp 87 of ameasuring instrument 85. To measure flexural rigidity in the seconddirection D2, the specimen 80 is held such that sides of the specimen 80extending in the second direction D2 extend from the first clamp 86 tothe second clamp 87. The spacing M3 between the first clamp 86 and thesecond clamp 87 is 10 mm.

Subsequently, the first clamp 86 is tilted relative to the second clamp87 so as to bend the specimen 80 into a curved shape. The initialflexural rigidity and mean flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 can becalculated based on the bending moment exerted on the specimen 80 atthis time. Initial flexural rigidity refers to the bending momentexerted on the specimen 80 when the specimen 80 is bent into a curvedshape from a flat shape. Mean flexural rigidity refers to the mean valueof bending moments exerted on the specimen 80 during a single executionof the process of bending the specimen 80 into a curved shape from aflat shape until the specimen 80 has a set curvature. The set curvatureis 2.5/cm. The rate of change in curvature is 0.1/cm·s.

Initial flexural rigidity and mean flexural rigidity are measured foreach of five specimens 80, and their respective mean values are used asinitial flexural rigidity and mean flexural rigidity according to thefirst embodiment.

The mean flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the machine directionis preferably greater than or equal to 15 g·cm²/cm. The mean flexuralrigidity of the specimen 80 in the machine direction may be greater thanor equal to 20 g·cm²/cm, may be greater than or equal to 25 g·cm²/cm, ormay be greater than or equal to 30 g·cm²/cm. An excessively high meanflexural rigidity, however, reduces the manufacturability or ease ofhandling of the pouch 10. With this in mind, the mean flexural rigidityof the specimen 80 in the machine direction may be less than or equal to50 g·cm²/cm, may be less than or equal to 45 g·cm²/cm, may be less thanor equal to 40 g·cm² cm, or may be less than or equal to 35 g·cm²/cm.

The mean flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the transversedirection orthogonal to the machine direction is preferably greater thanor equal to 16 g·cm²/cm. The mean flexural rigidity of the specimen 80in the transverse direction may be greater than or equal to 18 g·cm²/cm,may be greater than or equal to 20 g·cm²/cm, or may be greater than orequal to 22 g·cm²/cm. The mean flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 inthe transverse direction may be less than or equal to 40 g·cm²/cm, maybe less than or equal to 35 g·cm²/cm, may be less than or equal to 30g·cm²/cm, or may be less than or equal to 25 g·cm²/cm.

The initial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the machinedirection is preferably greater than or equal to 22 g·cm²/cm. Theinitial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the machine directionmay be greater than or equal to 25 g·cm²/cm, may be greater than orequal to 30 g·cm²/cm, or may be greater than or equal to 40 g·cm²/cm.The initial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the machinedirection may be less than or equal to 70 g·cm²/cm, may be less than orequal to 60 g·cm²/cm, may be less than or equal to 50 g·cm² cm, or maybe less than or equal to 45 g·cm²/cm.

The initial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the transversedirection is preferably greater than or equal to 23 g·cm²/cm. Theinitial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the transverse directionmay be greater than or equal to 25 g·cm²/cm, may be greater than orequal to 28 g·cm²/cm, or may be greater than or equal to 30 g·cm²/cm.The initial flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in the transversedirection may be less than or equal to 70 g·cm²/cm, may be less than orequal to 60 g·cm²/cm, may be less than or equal to 50 g cm²/cm, or maybe less than or equal to 40 g·cm²/cm.

As an instrument for measuring flexural rigidity, a pure-bendingcharacteristic tester JTC-911BT manufactured by SMT Co., Ltd. can beused. The flexural rigidity is measured under the environment of atemperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 50%.

According to the first embodiment, the second region 20 is provided withthe reinforcing part 21 a including the reinforcement 55. This makes itpossible to increase the flexural rigidity of a portion of the secondregion 20 where the hole 4 is located. This helps to prevent or inhibita region around the periphery of each of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 from deforming to cause the pouch 10 to fall offthe hanging implement.

(Packaging Material)

Reference is now made in detail to the first packaging material 30A andthe second packaging material 30B.

The first packaging material 30A includes at least one layer located inboth the first region 19 and the second region 20. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 3, the first base layer 51 and the first sealantlayer 61 of the first packaging material 30A are located in both thefirst region 19 and the second region 20.

As with the first packaging material 30A, the second packaging material30B also includes at least one layer located in both the first region 19and the second region 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, thesecond base layer 52 and the second sealant layer 62 of the secondpackaging material 30B are located in both the first region 19 and thesecond region 20.

The layer structure of each of the first packaging material 30A and thesecond packaging material 303 is described below in detail. FIG. 6 is across-sectional view of the layer structure of the first packagingmaterial 30A.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first packaging material 30A includes atleast the first base layer 51, and the first sealant layer 61 locatedadjacent to the inner face of the first base layer 51, The firstpackaging material 30A may include a first bonding layer 65 for bondingthe first base layer 51 to another layer such as the first sealant layer61.

Suitable materials for the first base layer 51 may include: a polyesterfilm such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polybutyleneterephthalate film; a polyamide film such as a nylon film; a plasticfilm such as a polypropylene film; and paper. A plastic film thatconstitutes the first base layer 51 is preferably oriented biaxially.

If the first base layer 51 includes a plastic film, the first base layer51 has a thickness of, for example, greater than or equal to 10 μm andless than or equal to 50 μm. Paper that constitutes the first base layer51 has a basis weight of, for example, greater than or equal to 20 g/m²and less than or equal to 100 g/m².

Suitable materials for the first sealant layer 61 may include polyolefinresins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetatecopolymers, ethylene-propylene block copolymers, and propylene-ethyleneblock copolymers. The first sealant layer 61 may include an unorientedsealant film.

The thickness of the first sealant layer 61 may be greater than or equalto 15 μm, or may be greater than or equal to 18 μm. The thickness of thefirst sealant layer 61 may be less than or equal to 80 μm, may be lessthan or equal to 60 μm, may be less than or equal to or may be less thanor equal to 30 μm.

The first bonding layer 65 may be an adhesive layer, or may be a bondingresin layer. The adhesive layer can be formed by a known method, forexample, dry lamination. The bonding resin layer includes thermoplasticresin. The bonding resin layer can be formed by a known method, forexample, melt extrusion lamination or sandwich lamination.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary layer structure ofthe first packaging material 30 k As illustrated in FIG. 7, the firstpackaging material 30A may further include a first additional layer 53.The first packaging material 30A may include a third bonding layer 67for bonding the first additional layer 53 to another layer.

The first additional layer 53 is provided to impart some characteristicsto the first packaging material 30A. For example, the first additionallayer 53 may include the film described above as an example of the firstbase layer 51. In this case, the presence of the first additional layer53 helps to increase the strength of the first packaging material 30 kThe material of a plastic film that constitutes the first additionallayer 53 may be identical to or different from the material of a plasticfilm that constitutes the first base layer 51.

The first additional layer 53 may include a metallic foil of aluminum orother metals. This allows for enhanced gas barrier property orlight-blocking property of the first packaging material 30A. The firstadditional layer 53 may include a resin layer with gas barrier property,examples of which include ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH),polyvinylidene chloride resins (PVDC), or aromatic polyamides such asnylon MXD6.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first additional layer 53 may be locatedbetween the first base layer 51 and the first sealant layer 61.Alternatively, although not illustrated, the first additional layer 53may be located adjacent to the outer face of the first base layer 51.

As with the first bonding layer 65, the third bonding layer 67 may be anadhesive layer, or may be a bonding resin layer.

The first packaging material 30A may include a print layer. The printlayer is a layer on which to form any desired prints such as letters,numerals, designs, geometric figures, symbols, or patterns for purposesincluding decoration, indication of the contents, indication ofbest-before date, manufacturer or producer, seller or distributor, orother such information, and providing other indications or a sense ofbeauty. The print layer is formed by printing ink including a binder anda pigment.

A plastic film included in the first packaging material 30A may beprovided with a vapor-deposited layer of a metal such as aluminum, avapor-deposited layer of a metal oxide such as an aluminum oxide, or avapor-deposited layer of an inorganic oxide such as a silicon oxide.Such a vapor-deposited layer may be stacked over the first base layer51, may be stacked over the first sealant layer 61, or may be stackedover the first additional layer 53.

The layers constituting the first packaging material 30A are stacked byuse of a method such as dry lamination or melt extrusion. The firstpackaging material 30A may further include other layers not illustratedin the drawings.

The second packaging material 30B includes at least the second baselayer 52, and the second sealant layer 62 located adjacent to the innerface of the second base layer 52. As with the first packaging material30A illustrated in FIG. 6, the second packaging material 30B may includethe following layers arranged in the order stated below from the outerside toward the inner side of the second packaging material 30B: thesecond base layer 52, a second bonding layer 66, and the second sealantlayer 62, The second base layer 52, the second bonding layer 66, and thesecond sealant layer 62 of the second packaging material 30B may besimilar in their material, thickness, or other configuration to thefirst base layer 51, the first bonding layer 65, and the first sealantlayer 61 of the first packaging material 30A.

As with the first packaging material 30A illustrated in FIG. 7, thesecond packaging material 30B may include the following layers arrangedin the order stated below from the outer side toward the inner side ofthe second packaging material 30B: the second base layer 52, the secondbonding layer 66, a second additional layer 54, a fourth bonding layer68, and the second sealant layer 62. The second base layer 52, thesecond bonding layer 66, the second additional layer 54, the fourthbonding layer 68, and the second sealant layer 62 of the secondpackaging material 30B may be similar in their material, thickness, orconfiguration to the first base layer 51, the first bonding layer 65,the first additional layer 53, the third bonding layer 67, and the firstsealant layer 61 of the first packaging material 30A.

The layer structure of the first packaging material 30A may be identicalto or different from the layer structure of the second packagingmaterial 30B. The first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B are also collectively referred to as packaging material 30.

The thickness of each of the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B is, for example, greater than or equal to 30 μm.The thickness of each of the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B may be greater than or equal to 40 μm, or may begreater than or equal to 45 μm. The thickness of each of the firstpackaging material 30A and the second packaging material 30B may be lessthan or equal to 100 μm, may be less than or equal to 80 μm, or may beless than or equal to 60 μm.

Reference is now made to several preferred specific examples of thepackaging material 30. The packaging material 30 is not limited to thespecific examples described below but may have other configurations.

OPP (oriented polypropylene film) 20 μm/print layer/AC/PE 10 μm/VMPET 12μm/AC/PE 10 μm/CPP (cast polypropylene film) 18 μmOPP 20 μm/adhesive layer/VMCPP 30 μmPET (polyethylene terephthalate) 12 μm/adhesive layer/VMCPP 30 μmOPP 20 μm/adhesive layer/CPP 18 μmONY (oriented nylon film) 15 μm/PE (polyethylene film) 30 μmprint layer/paper 50 μm/PE 10 μm/VMPET 12 μm/AC/PE 10 μm/CPP 18 μmprint layer/paper 50 μm/PE 10 μm/aluminum foil 7 μm/PE 30 μmPET 12 μm/PE 15 μm/aluminum foil 7 μm/PE 30 μm

“AC” means anchor coating layer. The anchor coating layer is a layerformed by applying an anchor coating agent onto a predetermined layer orfilm and then drying the resulting layer or film.

“VMPET” means a PET film with a vapor-deposited layer of a metal such asaluminum stacked thereon.

<Manufacturing Method>

Reference is now made to a method for manufacturing the pouch 10. First,as illustrated in FIG. 6, the first packaging material 30A and thesecond packaging material 30B are placed to face each other. Thereinforcement 55 is inserted in between the first packaging material 30Aand the second packaging material 30B to form a multilayer body. In thisstate, the multilayer body is heat sealed at a predetermined sealingtemperature in regions corresponding to the first edge 11, the thirdedge 13, and the fourth edge 14 to thereby form the first-edge seal 21,the third-edge seal 23, and the fourth-edge seal 24. A region of themultilayer body overlapping the reinforcement 55 becomes the reinforcingpart 21 a mentioned above. Each of the first packaging material 30A, thesecond packaging material 303, and the reinforcement 55 may be in theform of a long roll stock extending in the second direction D2 in FIG.6.

Subsequently, the multilayer body is punched with a punching die to formthe hole 4 and the communication part 5. Further, the multilayer body iscut at locations in the first direction D1 that are to become the thirdedge 13 and the fourth edge 14. In this way, the pouch 10 including thereinforcing part 21 a, the hole 4, and the communication part 5illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B can be obtained.

Subsequently, the containment part 8 of the pouch 10 is filled with thecontents through an opening 9 located near the second edge 12. Then, ata location near the second edge 12, the inner face of the firstpackaging material 30A, and the inner face of the second packagingmaterial 30B are heat sealed at a predetermined sealing temperature toform the second-edge seal 22. In this way, as illustrated in FIGS. 9Aand 9B, the pouch 10 with its contents contained and sealed therein canbe obtained.

<Usage Method>

Reference is now made to an example of how to use the pouch 10. Thefigure illustrates a plurality of pouches 10 hung on a hanging implement70. The hanging implement 70 includes at least a support 71 on which tohang each pouch 10. The support 71 is, for example, a rod, which isinserted into the hole 4 of the pouch 10.

The hanging implement 70 may include a restraint part 72 connected toone end of the support 71. The restraint part 72 is inclined relative tothe support 71 such that the restraint part 72 is displaced upwardrelative to the support 71 with increasing distance from the one end ofthe support 71. In other words, the restraint part 72 is inclined so asto extend downward in the longitudinal direction toward the support 71.The presence of the restraint part 72 helps to prevent or inhibit thepouch 10 from falling off the one end of the support 71. Reference sign74 denotes the boundary part between the support 71 and the restraintpart 72. The support 71 and the restraint part 72 may be formed by asingle component that is bent in the boundary part 74 such that theorientation of its longitudinal direction changes in the boundary part74.

The hanging implement 70 may include a fixed part 73 connected to theother end of the support 71. The fixed part 73 is a component in theform of a flat plate with a predetermined thickness. The fixed part 73may be formed such that when the fixed part 73 is placed with itssurface oriented in parallel to the vertical direction, the support 71and the restraint part 72 are both directed vertically downward towardthe boundary part 74. As with conventional hanging implements, the fixedpart 73 has predetermined mounting means provided on its back. Themounting means allows the fixed part 73 to be mounted to a fixture or toa display rack or shelf with the surface of the fixed part 73 orientedin parallel to the vertical direction.

FIGS. 11A and 11B each illustrate an exemplary operation of hanging thepouch 10 on the hanging implement 70. This operation is performed by,for example, an employee of a store that sells the pouch 10.

The employee first brings the communication part 5 of the pouch 10 intocontact with the support 71 of the hanging implement 70, According tothe first embodiment, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y have alarge spacing from each other at the location where the first portion 5a connects with the first edge 11. This facilitates positioning of thecommunication part 5 of the pouch 10 with respect to the support 71. Asillustrated in FIG. 11A, the presence of the curved portion 5 c at thelocation where the first portion 5 a connects with the first edge 11facilitates entry of the support 71 into the first portion 5 a of thecommunication part 5 along the curved portion 5 c.

Subsequently, the employee moves the pouch 10 upward toward the support71 as indicated by an arrow U in FIG. 11B. This allows the support 71 topass through the communication part 5 and reach the hole 4. The employeethen releases his or her hand from the pouch 10. According to the firstembodiment, the spacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5y is narrow at the location where the second portion Sb of thecommunication part 5 connects with the hole 4. This helps to prevent orinhibit a region of the pouch 10 around the periphery of each of thehole 4 and the communication part 5 from deforming to cause the pouch 10to fall off the support 71.

According to the first embodiment, the support 71 can be inserted intothe hole 4 via the communication part 5, Consequently, as indicated byan arrow in FIG. 10, with a plurality of pouches 10 hung on the support71, a new pouch 10 can be attached to the support 71 at any givenlocation. This facilitates adjustment of the order of the pouches 10hung on the support 71, in comparison to conventional pouches 10 of atype that are attached to the support 71 from the restraint part 72. Forexample, a new pouch 10 can be placed near the fixed part 73 relative tothe pouches 10 already hung on the support 71. This allows, for example,the pouches 10 to be easily rearranged such that the pouches 10 withshorter use-by dates are placed nearer the restraint part 72.

Reference is now made to how a consumer removes the pouch 10 from thesupport 71. The consumer first grasps the pouch 10 hung on the support71, and moves the pouch 10 downward. This causes the support 71 to passthrough the communication part 5 of the pouch 10 to allow removal of thepouch 10 from the support 71.

According to the first embodiment, a consumer is able to easily remove asingle desired pouch 10 from the support 71, in comparison toconventional pouches 10 that are removed from the support 71 from therestraint part 72, This proves particularly advantageous for theconsumer if there are individual differences among the pouches 10. Forinstance, a case is now considered where the packaging material 30 ofeach pouch 10 is transparent to allow a consumer to see the contents ofthe pouch 10. In this case, the consumer first checks the condition ofthe contents of a plurality of pouches 10 hung on the support 71. Theconsumer then removes a pouch 10 with desired contents from the support71. In this way, the consumer is able to choose a desired pouch 10 andremove the pouch 10 from the support 71.

Various changes can be made to the first embodiment described above.Modifications of the first embodiment are described below with referenceto the drawings as required. In the following description and thedrawings used in the following description, features that may be similarin configuration to those of the embodiment described above aredesignated by the same reference signs as those used for thecorresponding features in the embodiment described above, andoverlapping descriptions are omitted. In the following description, whenit is obvious that modifications provide the same operational effects asthose provided by the embodiment described above, descriptions of suchoperational effects are omitted in some cases.

(Modification of Communication Part)

The embodiment described above is directed to an example in which thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y of the communication part 5include a straight portion extending from the first portion 5 a to thesecond portion 5 b. However, this is not intended to be limiting.Alternatively, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the first line 5x and the second line 5 y may include the curved portion 5 c extendingfrom the first portion 5 a to the second portion 5 b. In this case, thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y may not include a straightportion.

(Modification of Communication Part)

The embodiment described above is directed to an example in which thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y of the communication part 5include the curved portion 5 c provided at the location where the firstportion 5 a connects with the first edge 11. However, this is notintended to be limiting. Alternatively, the first line 5 x and thesecond line 5 y may not include the curved portion 5 c. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 13, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y maybe defined by a straight portion that extends from the hole 4 to thefirst edge 11.

(Modification of Communication Part)

The embodiment described above is directed to an example in which thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y of the communication part 5 arenot in contact with each other. That is, the embodiment described aboveis directed to an example in which the communication part 5 is a notch.However, this is not intended to be limiting. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 14, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y maybe at least partially in contact with each other in the second portion 5b of the communication part 5. The portion where the first line 5 x andthe second line 5 y are in contact with each other is obtained by, forexample, inserting a blade into a portion of the second region 20. Sucha portion is also referred to as slit. In FIG. 14, the slit is denotedby reference sign 5 d. The slit 5 d is included in the second portion 5b.

A notch 5 e where the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y are not incontact with each other exists at a location near the first edge 11relative to the slit 5 d. A portion of the notch Se where the spacing Wbetween the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y is less than or equalto 2.0 mm is classified to be the second portion 5 b. A portion of thenotch 5 e where the spacing W between the first line 5 x and the secondline 5 y is greater than 2.0 mm is classified to be the first portion 5a.

Reference signs L3 and L4 respectively denote the length of the notch 5e and the length of the slit Sd in a direction in which the middle line5 z extends. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the length L3 of the notch Semay be greater than the length L4 of the slit 5 d. For example, thelength L3 of the notch 5 e may be greater than or equal to 1.2 times,may be greater than or equal to 1.5 times, or may be greater than orequal to 2.0 times the length L4 of the slit 5 d, Alternatively,although not illustrated, the length L3 of the notch Se may be less thanthe length L4 of the slit Sd.

(Modification of Hole)

The embodiment described above is directed to an example in which theoutline of the hole 4 has the shape of a circle, more specifically, theshape of a perfect circle. However, the outline of the hole 4 may notnecessarily have the shape of a perfect circle. For example, asillustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the outline of the hole 4 may have theshape of an ellipse. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a firstdimension S1 of the hole 4 may be smaller than a second dimension S2 ofthe hole 4. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the firstdimension S1 of the hole 4 may be larger than the second dimension S2 ofthe hole 4, The first dimension S1 refers to a dimension of the hole 4in a direction in which the middle line 5 z extends at the locationwhere the communication part 5 connects with the hole 4. The seconddimension S2 refers to a dimension of the hole 4 in a directionorthogonal to the direction of measurement of the first dimension S1.

(Modifications of Hole)

The foregoing description of the embodiment or its modifications isdirected to an example in which the outline of the hole 4 has the shapeof a circle such as a perfect circle or an ellipse. However, this is notintended to be limiting. Alternatively, the outline of the hole 4 mayhave the shape of a polygon. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and18, the outline of the hole 4 may have the shape of a quadrangle. Inthis case, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the communication part 5 may beconnected to the middle portion of a side of the quadrangle thatconstitutes the outline of the hole 4. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 18, the communication part 5 may be connected to a corner of thequadrangle that constitutes the outline of the hole 4. A corner is wheretwo sides constituting a polygon such as a quadrangle meet. The outlineof the hole 4 may have the shape of a triangle as illustrated in FIG.19. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the communication part 5may be connected to a corner of the triangle that constitutes theoutline of the hole 4, Alternatively, although not illustrated, thecommunication part 5 may be connected to the middle portion of a side ofthe triangle that constitutes the outline of the hole 4. If the outlineof the hole 4 has the shape of a polygon, the corners of the polygon mayinclude a curved portion as illustrated in FIG. 20.

For a case where the outline of the hole 4 has the shape of a polygon aswell, as in the case of FIGS. 15 and 16 described above, the firstdimension of the hole 4 may be smaller than the second dimension of thehole 4, or the first dimension of the hole 4 may be larger than thesecond dimension of the hole 4. Alternatively, the first dimension ofthe hole 4 may be equal to the second dimension of the hole 4.

(Modification of Hole)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich at the location of the hole 4, the first packaging material 30Aand the second packaging material 30B are punched out and removed.However, this is not intended to be limiting. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 21, the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B that are located in the area overlapping the hole4 may be left to remain while being coupled to the second region 20around the periphery of the hole 4. For example, the outline of the hole4 may include a first outline 4 x having one end connected to the firstline 5 x, and a second outline 4 y having one end connected to thesecond line 5 y, and the other end of the first outline 4 x and theother end of the second outline 4 y may not be connected to each other.In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a portion 4 a of the packagingmaterial overlapping the hole 4 is coupled to the second region 20around the periphery of the hole 4 via a coupling part 4 z, which islocated between the other end of the first outline 4 x and the other endof the second outline 4 y.

FIG. 22 illustrates the pouches 10 hung on the hanging implement 70, thepouches 10 each including the hole 4 illustrated in FIG. 21. In hangingthe pouch 10 onto the hanging implement 70, the portion 4 a of thepackaging material that overlaps the hole 4 is pushed by the support 71that has reached the hole 4 after passing through the communication part5. The support 71 can be thus inserted into the hole 4 as illustrated inFIG. 22.

(Modification of Positioning of Hole and Communication Part)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich the hole 4 is located in the middle portion of the first-edge seal21 in the second direction D2, and the communication part 5 extends fromthe hole 4 to the first edge 11. However, there are no particularlimitations on the positioning of the hole 4 and the communication part5, as long as such positioning allows the pouch 10 to be hung on thehanging implement 70. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 23, the hole 4may be located near the third edge 13 relative to the middle portion ofthe first-edge seal 21 in the second direction D2. Further, thecommunication part 5 may extend from the hole 4 to the third edge 13. Inthis case, the location where the communication part 5 connects with thehole 4 can be easily offset from the uppermost portion of the hole 4.

If the communication part 5 connects with the hole 4 at a location thatis offset from the uppermost portion of the hole 4, this helps to avoidcontact of the support 71 with the communication part 5 while the pouch10 is hung on the hanging implement 70. This makes it possible toprevent or inhibit the support 71 from passing through the communicationpart 5 due to the self-weight of the pouch 10.

(Modification of Positioning of Hole and Communication Part)

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the first edge 11 of the pouch 10 may includea first side 11 a, and a second side 11 b located near the containmentpart 8 relative to the first side 11 a. In the example illustrated inFIG. 24, the first side 11 a and the second side 11 b both extend in thesecond direction D2.

The first side 11 a may be located in the middle portion of the firstedge 11 in the second direction D2. In this case, one second side 11 bmay be located near the third edge 13 relative to the first side 11 a,and another second side 11 b may be located near the fourth edge 14relative to the first side 11 a. The hole 4 and the communication part 5may be provided in the first-edge seal 21 located between the first side11 a of the first edge 11 and the containment part 8.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 24, the outer edge of a portion ofthe pouch 10 located between the first side 11 a of the first edge 11and the containment part 8 includes a third side 11 c, which extendsfrom the first side 11 a toward the containment part 8. In this case, asillustrated in FIG. 24, the communication part 5 may extend from thehole 4 to the third side 11 c. For the example illustrated in FIG. 24 aswell, the location where the communication part 5 connects with the hole4 can be easily offset from the uppermost portion of the hole 4. Thismakes it possible to prevent or inhibit the support 71 from passingthrough the communication part 5 due to the self-weight of the pouch

(Modification of Reinforcement)

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the reinforcement55. The reinforcement 55 may include a packaging material that includesat least a base layer 56 and a sealant layer 57, For example, asillustrated in FIG. 25, the reinforcement 55 may include a packagingmaterial folded in such a way that the sealant layer 57 faces outward.The sealant layer 57 of the reinforcement 55 that is located near thefirst packaging material 30A, and the first sealant layer 61 of thefirst packaging material 30A may be integrated together through a heatseal process. Likewise, the sealant layer 57 of the reinforcement 55that is located near the second packaging material 30B, and the secondsealant layer 62 of the second packaging material 30B may be integratedtogether through a heat seal process.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 25, the reinforcing part 21 aincludes four sheets of packaging material each including a base layerand a sealant layer. Specifically, the reinforcing part 21 a includesthe following sheets of packaging material arranged in the order statedbelow from the first face 1 toward the second face 2: the firstpackaging material 30A; a packaging material constituting thereinforcement 55: a packaging material constituting the reinforcement55; and the second packaging material 30B. The presence of the foursheets of packaging material in the reinforcing part 21 a helps toincrease the strength of the pouch 10 around the periphery of each ofthe hole 4 and the communication part 5.

The packaging material constituting the reinforcement 55 may beidentical to the first packaging material 30A or the second packagingmaterial 30B. That is, the reinforcement 55 may be formed by using thefirst packaging material 30A or the second packaging material 30B. Thisenables efficient manufacture of the pouch 10 including the reinforcingpart 21 a.

The reinforcing part 21 a illustrated in FIG. 25 may have a layerstructure represented below.

first base layer/sealing layer/base layer/base layer/sealinglayer/second base layer

The sealing layer adjacent to the first base layer is formed by thefirst sealant layer 61 and the sealant layer 57, The sealing layeradjacent to the second base layer is formed by the second sealant layer62 and the sealant layer 57.

Although not illustrated, the sealant layer 57 joined to the firstsealant layer 61, and the sealant layer 57 joined to the second sealantlayer 62 may be separate layers. In this case, the base layer 56 stackedon the sealant layer 57 joined to the first sealant layer 61, and thebase layer 56 stacked on the sealant layer 57 joined to the secondsealant layer 62 may be separate layers.

FIG. 26 illustrates an exemplary method for manufacturing a pouchincluding the reinforcement illustrated in FIG. 25. First, asillustrated in FIG. 26, the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B are placed to face each other. The reinforcement55 made of a packaging material folded with the sealant layer facingoutward as described above is inserted in between the first packagingmaterial 30A and the second packaging material 30B to thereby form amultilayer body. In this state, the multilayer body is heat sealed at apredetermined sealing temperature to form the first-edge seal 21, thethird-edge seal 23, and the fourth-edge seal 24. Subsequently, themultilayer body is punched with a punching die to form the hole 4 andthe communication part 5. Further, the multilayer body is cut atlocations in the first direction D1 that are to become the third edge 13and the fourth edge 14. In this way, the pouch 10 including thereinforcing part 21 a, the hole 4, and the communication part 5 can beobtained.

Although the reinforcement 55 is depicted as being made of a foldedpackaging material in the example illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, thisis not intended to be limiting. For example, although not illustrated,two sheets of packaging material each including a base layer and asealant layer may be stacked with their sealant layers facing outward tothereby form the reinforcement 55. Such two sheets of packaging materialmay be obtained by folding up a single sheet of packing material andthen cutting the sheet in the vicinity of the fold.

As with the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the packaging materialconstituting the reinforcement 55 illustrated in FIG. 25 may includelayers other than the base layer 56 and the sealant layer 57.

(Modification of Reinforcing Part)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich the reinforcing part 21 a extends in the second direction D2 so asto reach the third edge 13 and the fourth edge 14. However, the areaover which the reinforcing part 21 a extends is not particularly limitedas long as the reinforcing part 21 a surrounds the hole 4. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 27, the reinforcing part 21 a may not reach thethird edge 13 or the fourth edge 14. In this case, in plan view, a sealwhere the first packaging material 30A and the second packaging material30B are joined together may be located between the reinforcing part 21a, and the third edge 13 or the fourth edge 14.

(Modification of Pouch)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich the pouch 10 includes the reinforcing part 21 a surrounding thehole 4 in plan view. However, this is not intended to be limiting.Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 28, the pouch 10 may not includethe reinforcing part 21 a surrounding the hole 4. Even in such a case,by forming the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B such that the second region 20 has sufficient strength, itis possible to prevent or inhibit a region around the periphery of eachof the hole 4 and the communication part 5 from deforming to cause thepouch 10 to fall off the hanging implement.

(Modification of Pouch)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich the pouch 10 is a so-called four-side seal pouch with a sealprovided along each of the first edge 11, the second edge 12, the thirdedge 13, and the fourth edge 14. However, the pouch 10 may notnecessarily be a four-side seal pouch. For example, the pouch 10 may bea so-called three-side seal pouch with a seal provided along three ofthe four edges including the first edge 11, the second edge 12, thethird edge 13, and the fourth edge 14. FIG. 29 is a front view of athree-side seal pouch with no contents contained therein. FIG. 30 is afront view of the three-side seal pouch with its contents containedtherein.

The pouch 10 illustrated in each of FIGS. 29 and 30 is formed by foldingover a packaging material along the fourth edge 14. In this case, thepouch 10 includes the following seals: the first-edge seal 21 extendingalong the first edge 11; and the third-edge seal 23 extending along thethird edge 13. After the containment part 8 of the pouch 10 is filledwith the contents inserted through the opening 9 located near the secondedge 12, the second-edge seal 22 is formed along the second edge 12 asillustrated in FIG. 30.

In the example illustrated in each of FIGS. 29 and 30, the firstpackaging material 30A constituting the first face 1, and the secondpackaging material 30B constituting the second face 2 are each formed bya single sheet of packaging material folded over along the fourth edge14. Accordingly, the layer structure of the first packaging material 30Ais identical to the layer structure of the second packaging material30B. In the example illustrated in each of FIGS. 29 and 30, the firstdirection D1 may be the machine direction of the first packagingmaterial 30A and the second packaging material 30B, and the seconddirection D2 may be the transverse direction.

(Modification of Pouch)

FIG. 31 is a front view of a modification of the pouch 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 31, the pouch 10 may be a gusseted pouch configuredto be capable of standing by itself with the second edge 12 facing down.The pouch 10 includes, in addition to the first packaging material 30Aconstituting the first face 1 and the second packaging material 30Bconstituting the second face 2, a third packaging material located at ornear the second edge 12 and constituting a third face 3. The thirdpackaging material is folded over along a folding part 3 f, and disposedbetween the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B in the folded state. In the example illustrated in FIG. 31,the second direction D2 may be the machine direction of each of thefirst packaging material 30A, the second packaging material 30B, and thethird packaging material, and the first direction D1 may be thetransverse direction.

As with the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B, the third packaging material constituting the third face 3includes a base layer, and a sealant layer located adjacent to the innerface of the base layer. The second-edge seal 22 extending along thesecond edge 12 is formed by joining together the first sealant layer 61of the first packaging material 30A and the sealant layer of the thirdpackaging material, and by joining together the second sealant layer 62of the second packaging material 30B and the sealant layer of the thirdpackaging material.

(Modification of Pouch)

FIG. 32 is a front view of a modification of the pouch 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 32, the pouch 10 may be a pillow pouch including afin seal part 7 extending in the first direction D1 from the first edge11 to the second edge 12. In the example illustrated in FIG. 32, the finseal part 7 is located on the first face 1. Although not illustrated,the fin seal part 7 may be located on the second face 2. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 32, the first direction D1 may be the machinedirection of the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B, and the second direction D2 may be the transversedirection.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the pouch 10 taken along a line C-Cin FIG. 32. The fin seal part 7 includes a base portion 7 a located nearthe containment part 8, and a distal end portion 7 b located opposite tothe base portion 7 a. The fin seal part 7 includes a seal locatedbetween the base portion 7 a and the distal end portion 7 b and wherethe respective first sealant layers 61 of two sheets of first packagingmaterial 30A located at the first face 1 are joined together. Althoughnot illustrated, if the fin seal part 7 is located on the second face 2,the fin seal part 7 includes a seal located between the base portion 7 aand the distal end portion 7 b and where the respective second sealantlayers 62 of two sheets of second packaging material 30B located at thesecond face are joined together.

The base portion 7 a of the fin seal part 7 may be located near thethird edge 13 or the fourth edge 14 relative to the middle portion ofthe pouch 10 in the second direction D2, In the example illustrated inFIG. 32, the base portion 7 a of the fin seal part 7 is located near thethird edge 13 relative to the middle portion of the pouch 10 in thesecond direction D2. This helps to ensure that the fin seal part 7 doesnot overlap the hole 4 and the communication part 5. Although notillustrated, the base portion 7 a of the fin seal part 7 may be disposedin the middle portion of the pouch 10 in the second direction D2, andthe hole 4 and the communication part 5 may be disposed near the thirdedge 13 or the fourth edge 14 relative to the middle portion of thepouch 10 in the second direction D2,

(Modification of Pouch)

FIGS. 32 and 33 described above illustrate an example in which the finseal part 7 does not overlap the hole 4 and the communication part 5.However, this is not intended to be limiting. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 34, the fin seal part 7 may overlap the hole 4 andthe communication part 5. In this case, the fin seal part 7 preferablyhas a larger dimension than the hole 4 in the second direction D2. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 34, the first direction D1 may be themachine direction of the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B, and the second direction D2 may be thetransverse direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, the base portion 7 a of the fin seal part 7may be slightly offset toward the third edge 13 or the fourth edge 14from the middle portion of the pouch 10 in the second direction D2. Thisconfiguration allows the fin seal part 7 to overlap the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 while allowing the hole 4 and the communicationpart 5 to be positioned in the middle portion of the first-edge seal 21in the second direction D2.

In FIG. 34, reference sign K1 denotes the distance in the seconddirection D2 from the third edge 13 to the base portion 7 a. Referencesign K2 denotes the distance in the second direction D2 from the fourthedge 14 to the base portion 7 a. The distance K1 is greater than thedistance K2, In other words, the base portion 7 a is located near thefourth edge 14 relative to the middle portion of the pouch 10 in thesecond direction D2. The difference between the distance K1 and thedistance K2 corresponds to the dimension of the hole 4. The differencebetween the distance K1 and the distance K2 is, for example, greaterthan or equal to 5 mm and less than or equal to 50 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, the first-edge seal 21 may not include thereinforcing part 21 a. Even in such a case, this modification, the pouch10 can be provided with sufficient strength in a portion around theperiphery of each of the hole 4 and the communication part 5. The reasonfor this is described below with reference to FIG. 35. FIG. 35 is across-sectional view of the pouch 10 taken along a line D-D in FIG. 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 35, the fin seal part 7 includes two sheets offirst packaging material 30A stacked on each other. Consequently, aportion of the pouch 10 around the periphery of the hole 4 includes thefollowing sheets of packaging material arranged in the order statedbelow from the fin seal part 7 toward the second face 2: two sheets offirst packaging material 30A constituting the fin seal part 7; the firstpackaging material 30A constituting the first face 1; and the secondpackaging material 30B constituting the second face 2. That is, aportion of the pouch 10 around the periphery of the hole 4 includes foursheets of packaging material each including a base layer and a sealantlayer. This makes it possible to increase the strength of the pouch 10around the periphery of each of the hole 4 and the communication part

(Modification of Pouch)

FIG. 36 is a front view of a modification of the pouch 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 36, the pouch 10 may be a side gusset pouch havingthe fin seal part 7 and provided with a folding part 13 f and a foldingpart 14 f, the folding part 13 f extending along the third edge 13, thefolding part 14 f extending along the fourth edge 14. At the locationsof the folding part 13 f and the folding part 14 f, a packaging materialidentical to the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B is folded over. In the example illustrated in FIG. 36, thefirst direction D1 may be the machine direction of the first packagingmaterial 30A and the second packaging material 30B, and the seconddirection D2 may be the transverse direction.

(Modification of Pouch)

FIG. 37 is a front view of a modification of the pouch 10. The pouch 10may include a zipper tape 16 attached to the inner face of the firstpackaging material 30A and the inner face of the second packagingmaterial 30B. The zipper tape 16 is located near the second edge 12relative to the easy-opening means 15, and extends in the seconddirection D2. The zipper tape 16 includes, for example, a projectingtape attached to the inner face of the first packaging material 30A, anda recessed tape attached to the inner face of the second packagingmaterial 30B and capable of mating engagement with the protruding tape.The zipper tape 16 provided to the pouch 10 allows for easy resealing ofthe pouch 10 after the pouch 10 is opened.

(Modification of Hanging Implement)

The foregoing description of the embodiment is directed to an example inwhich the support 71 of the hanging implement 70 has the shape of acircle in cross-section. However, this is not intended to be limiting.Alternatively, the support 71 may have other shapes in cross-section,

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a modification of the hanging implement70. As illustrated in FIG. 38, the support 71 of the hanging implement70 may include a flat face 71 f located at the top.

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the support 71 when inserted in thehole 4 of the pouch 10. The flat face 71 f of the support 71 isconfigured to overlap the second portion 5 b of the communication part 5in the vertical direction when the support 71 is inserted in the hole 4of the pouch 10. The flat face 71 f has a dimension in the seconddirection D2 that is larger than the spacing between the first line 5 xand the second line 5 y at the location where the second portion 5 bconnects with the hole 4, The above-mentioned configuration of thesupport 71 makes it possible to prevent or inhibit the support 71 frompassing through the communication part 5 due to the self-weight of thepouch 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 39, the support 71 may have the shape of atriangle in cross-section. In this case, by forming the support 71 suchthat one side of the triangle is located at an upper position, the flatface 71 f of the support 71 and the second portion 5 b of thecommunication part 5 can be made to overlap each other in the verticaldirection. In the example illustrated in FIG. 39, the support 71 isplaced such that one side of its triangular cross-section is positioneduppermost in a horizontal manner, and one vertex opposite to the oneside of the triangular cross-section is positioned lowermost. As for theterm “horizontal”, it suffices that the above-mentioned one side bepositioned substantially horizontally, and the term conceptuallyincludes technical errors at the time of manufacture or installation.

(Modification of Hanging Implement)

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the support 71 ofthe hanging implement 70. As illustrated in FIG. 40, the support 71 mayhave the shape of a hexagon in cross-section. In this case, by formingthe support 71 such that one side of the hexagon is located at an upperposition, the flat face 71 f of the support 71 and the second portion 5b of the communication part 5 can be made to overlap each other in thevertical direction.

(Modification of Hanging Implement)

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a modification of the hanging implement70, As illustrated in FIG. 41, the support 71 may include the flat face71 f located at the top, and the restraint part 72 may have a circularcross-section. As described above, the cross-section of the restraintpart 72 may differ in shape from the cross-section of the support 71.The circular cross-section of the restraint part 72 allows the support71 to be easily passed through the hole 4 of the pouch 10 via therestraint part 72. As described above, it is also possible to directlypass the support 71 through the hole 4 via the communication part 5

(Modification of Package)

The foregoing description of the embodiment and its modifications isdirected to an example in which the hole 4 and the communication part 5are provided in the second region 20 of the pouch 10. However, thepackage including the hole 4 and the communication part 5 is not limitedto the pouch 10.

This modification is directed to an example in which the package is alidded container 17. FIG. 42 is a plan view of the lidded container 17as seen from a lid 17 a. The lidded container 17 includes a container 17b, which includes the containment part 8 and a flange 17 c, and the lid17 a, which is joined to the flange 17 c of the container 17 b.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 42, as with the pouch 10, the liddedcontainer 17 has an outer edge that includes the first edge 11, thesecond edge 12 opposing the first edge 11 in the first direction D1, andthe third edge 13 and the fourth edge 14, which extend between the firstedge 11 and the second edge 12. That is, the outer edge of the liddedcontainer 17 has the shape of a quadrangle.

The shape of the outer edge of the lidded container 17 in plan view isnot particularly limited. For example, although not illustrated, theouter edge of the lidded container 17 may have a circular shape in planview.

As with the pouch 10, the lidded container 17 includes a seal where theinner face of a first packaging material constituting the lid 17 a, andthe inner face of a second packaging material constituting the container17 b are joined together. In the example illustrated in FIG. 42, theseal on the lidded container 17 includes the first-edge seal 21extending along the first edge 11, the second-edge seal 22 extendingalong the second edge 12, the third-edge seal 23 extending along thethird edge 13, and the fourth-edge seal 24 extending along the fourthedge 14.

For this modification as well, as in the case of the pouch 10, a regionof the lidded container 17 that overlaps the containment part 8 in planview is referred to as first region 19. Further, a region of the liddedcontainer 17 located between the containment part 8 and the outer edgeof the lidded container 17 and including a seal that joins the firstpackaging material and the second packaging material together isreferred to as second region 20.

As with the pouch 10, the lidded container 17 includes the hole 4, whichis located in the second region 20 and penetrates the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material. In the example illustratedin FIG. 42, the hole 4 is located in the first-edge seal 21 of thesecond region 20 between the first edge 11 of the lidded container 17and the containment part 8. The lidded container 17 includes thecommunication part 5, which extends from the hole 4 to the outer edge ofthe lidded container 17 and penetrates the first packaging material andthe second packaging material. In the example illustrated in FIG. 42,the communication part 5 extends to the first edge 11 from a portion ofthe hole 4 closest to the first edge 11. The hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 are identical in configuration to the hole 4 andthe communication part 5 of the pouch 10, and thus not described infurther detail below.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the lidded container 17 taken alonga line E-E in FIG. 42, FIG. 44 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe first-edge seal 21 and the containment part 8 of the liddedcontainer 17 illustrated in FIG. 43.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 44, the first packaging material 30Aconstituting the lid 17 a includes at least the first base layer 51, andthe first sealant layer 61 located adjacent to the inner face of thefirst base layer 51, The first packaging material 30A constituting the d17 a may be similar in configuration to the first packaging material 30Aconstituting the pouch 10.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 44, the second packaging material 30Bconstituting the container 17 b includes at least the second base layer52. A suitable exemplary material for the second base layer 52 is anunoriented plastic film such as a cast polypropylene film or anunoriented nylon film. The second base layer 52 may be made of a singlelayer, or may include a plurality of layers. For example, the secondbase layer 52 may be a co-extrusion sheet including a first layer madeof polypropylene, a second layer made of EVOH or nylon, and a thirdlayer made of polypropylene. EVOH refers to an ethylene-vinyl alcoholcopolymer. Although not illustrated, the second packaging material 30Bmay include layers other than the second base layer 52. The secondpackaging material 30B has a thickness of, for example, greater than orequal to 150 μm and less than or equal to 800 μm.

The container 17 b can be fabricated by processing the second packagingmaterial 30B by sheet forming. Sheet forming is a method involvingheating and softening a packaging material such as a sheet material, andpressing a die against the resulting material to form a desired shape inthe sheet. For example, vacuum forming, air-pressure forming,vacuum/air-pressure forming, or press forming may be employed. Thecontainer 17 b may be formed by other methods such as injection molding.

As with the first packaging material 30A of the pouch 10, the firstpackaging material 30A constituting the lid 17 a includes at least onelayer located in both the first region 19 and the second region 20. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 44, the first base layer 51 and thefirst sealant layer 61 of the first packaging material 30A are locatedin both the first region 19 and the second region 20.

The second packaging material 30B constituting the container 17 blikewise includes at least one layer located in both the first region 19and the second region 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 44, thesecond base layer 52 of the second packaging material 303 is located inboth the first region 19 and the second region 20.

For this modification as well, due to the presence of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 in the second region 20 of the lidded container 17,the support 71 can be inserted into the hole 4 via the communicationpart 5. This allows the lidded container 17 to be attached to or removedfrom the support 71 at a desired location on the support 71.

(Modification of Second Packaging Material of Lidded Container)

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the secondpackaging material 30B of the lidded container 17. As with FIG. 44, FIG.45 is an enlarged view of the first-edge seal and the containment partof the lidded container illustrated in FIG. 43.

As illustrated in FIG. 45, the second packaging material 303constituting the container 17 b may include the second base layer 52,and the second sealant layer 62 located adjacent to the inner face ofthe second base layer 52. The second base layer 52 may include anoriented plastic film oriented along at least one axis, preferably alongtwo axes. The second sealant layer 62 to be used may be the same as thesecond sealant layer 62 of the second packaging material 30B of thepouch 10. The second packaging material 30B has a thickness of, forexample, greater than or equal to 60 and less than or equal to 200

(Mechanical Characteristics of Second Region of Lidded Container)

For a case where the package is a lidded container as well, as in thecase of the pouch 10, a portion of the second region 20 where the hole 4is located preferably has a predetermined flexural rigidity in at leastone direction. For example, the above-mentioned portion preferably has amean flexural rigidity of greater than or equal to 15 g·cm²/cm. Theabove-mentioned portion preferably has an initial flexural rigidity ofgreater than or equal to 22 g·cm²/cm.

For a case where the package is a lidded container as well, as in thecase of the pouch 10, first, the specimen 80 is cut out from a portionof the second region 20 that has the same layer structure as the portionof the second region 20 where the hole 4 is located. This allows initialflexural rigidity and mean flexural rigidity to be measured in themachine direction and the transverse direction. The preferred ranges ofvalues for the initial flexural rigidity and the mean flexural rigidityin the machine direction and the transverse direction are identical tothose in the case of the pouch 10, and thus not described in furtherdetail below.

(Modification of Package)

Reference is now made to an example in which the package is a tube 18.FIG. 46 is a plan view of the tube 18 as seen from the first face 1. Thetube 18 includes a tubular body part 18 a, and a mouth part 18 b. A cap18 c may be attached to the mouth part 18 b.

As with the pouch 10, the body part 18 a is made of a packagingmaterial. The body part 18 a includes a first packaging materialconstituting the first face 1, and a second packaging materialconstituting the second face 2, The containment part 8 for containingcontents is provided between the first face 1 and the second face 2. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 46, the first packaging material and thesecond packaging material are obtained by forming a single sheet ofpackaging material into a tubular form.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 46, the body part 18 a of the tube 18has an outer edge that includes the first edge 11, the second edge 12opposing the first edge 11 in the first direction D1, and the third edge13 and the fourth edge 14, which extend between the first edge 11 andthe second edge 12.

As with the pouch 10, the body part 18 a of the tube 18 includes a sealwhere the inner face of the first packaging material constituting thefirst face 1, and the inner face of the second packaging materialconstituting the second face 2 are joined together. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 46, the seal on the body part 18 a includes thefirst-edge seal 21 extending along the first edge 11.

The body part 18 a of the tube 18 includes a joint 6, which extends onthe first face 1 from the first edge 11 to the second edge 12 in thefirst direction D1. The joint 6 includes a seal where the inner face atone end of a single sheet of packaging material constituting each of thefirst packaging material and the second packaging material, and theouter face at the other end of the single sheet of packaging materialare joined together. Although not illustrated, the joint 6 may belocated on the second face 2.

For this modification as well, as in the case of the pouch 10, a regionof the body part 18 a of the tube 18 that overlaps the containment part8 in plan view is referred to as first region 19. A region locatedbetween the containment part 8 and the outer edge of the body part 18 aand including a seal that joins the first packaging material and thesecond packaging material together is referred to as second region 20.

As with the pouch 10, the body part 18 a of the tube 18 includes thehole 4, which is located in the second region 20 and penetrates thefirst packaging material and the second packaging material. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 46, the hole 4 is located in the first-edgeseal 21 of the second region 20 between the first edge 11 of the bodypart 18 a and the containment part 8. The body part 18 a includes thecommunication part 5, which extends from the hole 4 to the outer edge ofthe body part 18 a and penetrates the first packaging material and thesecond packaging material. In the example illustrated in FIG. 46, thecommunication part 5 extends to the first edge 11 from a portion of thehole 4 closest to the first edge 11. The hole 4 and the communicationpart 5 are identical in configuration to the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 of the pouch 10, and thus not described in furtherdetail below.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the body part 18 a of the tube 18taken along a line F-F in FIG. 46, As illustrated in FIG. 47, the firstpackaging material 30A constituting the first face 1 includes at leastthe first base layer 51, and the first sealant layer 61 located adjacentto the inner face of the first base layer 51. The first packagingmaterial 30A may include a third sealant layer 63 located adjacent tothe outer face of the first base layer 51, By providing the thirdsealant layer 63, as with the joint 6 described above, the inner face atone end of the packaging material and the outer face at the other end ofthe packaging material can be joined together.

The first base layer 51 of the first packaging material 30A may besimilar in configuration to the first base layer 51 of the firstpackaging material 30A that constitutes the pouch 10 or the lid 17 amentioned above. The first sealant layer 61 and the third sealant layer63 may be similar in configuration to the first sealant layer 61 of thefirst packaging material 30A that constitutes the pouch 10 or the lid 17a mentioned above.

The second packaging material 30B constituting the second face 2includes at least the second base layer 52, and the second sealant layer62 located adjacent to the inner face of the second base layer 52. Thesecond packaging material 30B may include a fourth sealant layer 64located adjacent to the outer face of the second base layer 52. Thesecond base layer 52, the second sealant layer 62, and the fourthsealant layer 64 of the second packaging material 30B may be similar intheir material, thickness, or other configuration to the first baselayer 51, the first sealant layer 61, and the third sealant layer 63 ofthe first packaging material 30A.

The thickness of each of the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B is, for example, greater than or equal to 150 μm.The thickness of each of the first packaging material 30A and the secondpackaging material 30B may be greater than or equal to 200 μm, or may begreater than or equal to 250 μm. The thickness of each of the firstpackaging material 30A and the second packaging material 30B may be lessthan or equal to 500 μm, may be less than or equal to 400 μm, or may beless than or equal to 300 μm.

As with the first packaging material 30A of the pouch 10, the firstpackaging material 30A constituting the first face 1 of the body part 18a includes at least one layer located in both the first region 19 andthe second region 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 47, the firstbase layer 51, the first sealant layer 61, and the third sealant layer63 of the first packaging material 30A are located in both the firstregion 19 and the second region 20.

The second packaging material 30B constituting the second face 2 of thebody part 18 a likewise includes at least one layer located in both thefirst region 19 and the second region 20. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 47, the second base layer 52, the second sealant layer 62, and thefourth sealant layer 64 of the second packaging material 30B are locatedin both the first region 19 and the second region 20.

For this modification as well, due to the presence of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5 in the second region 20 of the body part 18 a ofthe tube 18, the support 71 can be inserted into the hole 4 via thecommunication part 5. This allows the tube 18 to be attached to orremoved from the support 71 at a desired location on the support 71.

(Mechanical Characteristics of Second Region of Tube)

For a case where the package is a tube as well, as in the case of thepouch 10, a portion of the second region 20 where the hole 4 is locatedpreferably has a predetermined flexural rigidity in at least onedirection. For example, the above-mentioned portion preferably has amean flexural rigidity of greater than or equal to 15 g·cm²/cm. Theabove-mentioned portion preferably has an initial flexural rigidity ofgreater than or equal to 22 g·cm²/cm.

For a case where the package is a tube as well, as in the case of thepouch 10, first, the specimen 80 is cut out from a portion of the secondregion 20 that has the same layer structure as the portion of the secondregion 20 where the hole 4 is located. This allows initial flexuralrigidity and mean flexural rigidity to be measured in the machinedirection and the transverse direction. The preferred ranges of valuesfor the initial flexural rigidity and the mean flexural rigidity in themachine direction and the transverse direction are identical to those inthe case of the pouch 10, and thus not described in further detailbelow.

(Exemplary Combinations of Embodiment and Modifications)

The characteristic features of the embodiment and its modificationsdescribed above can be combined with each other as appropriate.

For example, the modifications of the communication part 5 illustratedin FIGS. 12 to 14 may be combined with the modifications of the pouchillustrated in FIGS. 29 to 37, may be combined with the lidded container17 illustrated in each of FIGS. 42 to 45, or may be combined with thetube 18 illustrated in each of FIGS. 46 and 47. Further, themodifications of the hole 4 illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 21 may becombined with the modifications of the pouch illustrated in FIGS. 29 to37, may be combined with the lidded container 17 illustrated in each ofFIGS. 42 to 45, or may be combined with the tube 18 illustrated in eachof FIGS. 46 and 47.

EXAMPLES

Examples of the present invention are described below in more specificdetail. It is to be noted, however, that the present invention is notlimited to the examples described below unless such examples depart fromthe scope of the invention.

Example A1

The specimen 80 including four stacked sheets of packaging material wascreated. Each single sheet of packaging material has a thickness of 82μm. The overall thickness of the specimen 80 was thus 328 μm. Thespecimen 80 described above has a layer structure that corresponds tothe layer structure illustrated in FIG. 34, that is, the layer structureof a region around the periphery of the hole 4 formed in the fin sealpart 7, or to the layer structure illustrated in FIG. 30, that is, thelayer structure of a region around the periphery of the hole 4 formed ina region overlapping the reinforcement 55 made of a folded packingmaterial. Each single sheet of packaging material has a layer structurerepresented below.

OPP 20/PE 10/ALPET 12/PE 10/CPP 30

The symbol “/” represents the boundary between adjacent layers. Thelayer at the left end represents a layer defining the outer face of thepackaging material, and the layer at the right end represents a layerdefining the inner face of the packaging material.

“OPP” means a biaxially-oriented polypropylene film. “PE” means apoly-olefin resin layer using polyethylene. “ALPET” means abiaxially-oriented PET film with a vapor-deposited aluminum layer. “CPP”means a cast polypropylene film. The numerals denote the thicknesses ofthe corresponding layers (unit: μm).

The flexural rigidity of the specimen 80 in each of the machinedirection and the transverse direction was measured. As the measuringinstrument, a pure-bending characteristic tester JTC-911BT manufacturedby SMT Co., Ltd. was used. The measurement is performed under theenvironment of a temperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 50%.The mean flexural rigidity in the machine direction was 28.1 g·cm²/cm,and the mean flexural rigidity in the transverse direction was 19.8g·cm²/cm. The initial flexural rigidity in the machine direction was55.0 g·cm²/cm, and the initial flexural rigidity in the transversedirection was 24.7 g·cm²/cry.

Comparative Example A1

The specimen 80 was created in the same manner as in Example A1, exceptthat the specimen 80 is made up of two sheets of packaging material. Thespecimen 80 had a thickness of 164 μm.

In the same manner as in Example A1, the flexural rigidity of thespecimen 80 in each of the machine direction and the transversedirection was measured. The mean flexural rigidity in the machinedirection was 7.8 g·cm²/cm, and the mean flexural rigidity in thetransverse direction was 9.5 g·cm²/cm. The initial flexural rigidity inthe machine direction was 11.4 g·cm²/cm, and the initial flexuralrigidity in the transverse direction was 14.2 g·cm²/cm.

Comparative Example A2

The specimen 80 made of a biaxially-oriented PET film was prepared. Thespecimen 80 had a thickness of 150 μm.

In the same manner as in Example A1, the flexural rigidity of thespecimen 80 in each of the machine direction and the transversedirection was measured. The mean flexural rigidity in the machinedirection was 14.7 g·cm²/cm, and the mean flexural rigidity in thetransverse direction was 15.9 g·cm²/cm. The initial flexural rigidity inthe machine direction was 21.2 g·cm²/cm, and the initial flexuralrigidity in the transverse direction was 22.3 g·cm² cm.

Example B1

The pouch 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A was fabricated by using the samepackaging material as that used in Example A1. Specifically, the samepackaging material as that used in Example A1 was used as each of thefirst packaging material 30A constituting the first face 1 and thesecond packaging material 30B constituting the second face 2. Further,the packaging material according to Example A1 folded in two asillustrated in FIG. 25 was used as the reinforcement 55 of thereinforcing part 21 a. The pouch 10 had a thickness of 328 μm around thehole 4. At the location where the second portion 5 b connects with thehole 4, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y had a spacing W2 of 2mm from each other. The hole 4 had a diameter of 8 mm.

Subsequently, a load was applied to the pouch 10 with the hangingimplement 70 inserted in the hole 4 of the pouch 10 to thereby measurethe maximum value of load that the pouch 10 is able to withstand,Specifically, first, as illustrated in FIG. 48, the support 71 of thehanging implement, which has a circular cross-section with a diameter of6 mm, was inserted into the hole 4 located near the first edge 11 of thepouch 10. Subsequently, the second edge 12 located opposite to the firstedge 11 was pulled upward by using a scale 90. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 48, with a hook 91 of the scale 90 hooked on a hole92 provided at a location in the pouch 10 near the second edge 12, thescale 90 was pulled upward. The scale used was PORTABLE ELECTRONIC SCALEWH-A04 manufactured by WeiHeng.

The measurement was taken five times, and for each measurement, themaximum value of load applied to the scale was recorded. The results areillustrated in FIG. 49. The mean of the measured maximum values of loadwas 143.2 g.

With the pouch 10 hung from the support 71 of the hanging implement viathe hole 4 of the pouch 10, five panelists evaluated the stability ofthe pouch 10 by touching the pouch 10, pulling the pouch 10, or othermethods. The results are illustrated in FIG. 50. Panelists 1 to 5 allevaluated the pouch 10 as “good”. The evaluation “good” means that thepouch 10 did not fall when a panelist touched the pouch 10 but fell whenthe panelist twisted the pouch 10.

Comparative Example B1

The pouch 10 was fabricated in the same manner as in Example B1, exceptthat the pouch 10 does not include the reinforcing part 21 a. The pouch10 had a thickness of 164 μm around the hole 4.

Subsequently, in the same manner as in Example B1, the maximum value ofload that the pouch 10 is able to withstand was measured. The resultsare illustrated in FIG. 49. The mean of the measured maximum values ofload was 47.8 g.

In same manner as in Example B1, five panelists evaluated the stabilityof the pouch 10 hung on the support 71 of the hanging implement. Theresults are illustrated in FIG. 50. Panelists 1 to 5 all evaluated thepouch 10 as “bad”. The evaluation “bad” means that the pouch 10 fellwhen a panelist simply touched the pouch 10.

Example B2

The tube 18 illustrated in FIG. 46 was fabricated by using a packagingmaterial with a thickness of 334 μm. The tube 18 had a thickness of 668μm around the hole 4. At the location where the second portion 5 bconnects with the hole 4, the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y hada spacing W2 of 2 mm from each other. The packaging material has a layerrepresented below.

PEF 130/PET 12 ALPET 12/PEF 180

“PEF” means a polyethylene film.

Subsequently, in the same manner as in Example B1, the maximum value ofload that the tube 18 is able to withstand was measured. The results areillustrated in FIG. 49, The mean of the measured maximum values of loadwas 754.2 g.

In same manner as in Example B1, five panelists evaluated the stabilityof the tube 18 hung on the support 71 of the hanging implement. Theresults are illustrated in FIG. 50, Panelists 1 to 5 all evaluated thetube 18 as “great”. The evaluation “great” means that the tube 18 didnot fall when a panelist touched the tube 18, and that the pouch 10hardly fell when the panelist twisted the pouch 10.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is directed to providing a pouch that makes itpossible to save labor associated with putting the pouch on display.

To this end, the second embodiment provides a pouch having a containmentpart formed by joining a first packaging material and a second packagingmaterial together, the first packaging material being located at a firstface of the pouch, the second packaging material being located at asecond face of the pouch, the pouch including:

a reinforcing part located between a first edge of an outer edge of thepouch and the containment part;

a hole penetrating the first packaging material and the second packagingmaterial in the reinforcing part; and

a communication part extending from the hole to the outer edge of thepouch and penetrating the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material,

wherein the first packaging material includes a first base layer, and afirst sealant layer,

wherein the second packaging material includes a second base layer, anda second sealant layer, and

wherein the reinforcing part has any one of configurations a) to c)below.

a) A sealing layer with a thickness of greater than or equal to 100 μmis provided between the first base layer and the second base layer.

b) A sealing layer, a base layer, a base layer, a sealing layer, and asealing layer are provided in the stated order between the first baselayer and the second base layer.

c) A sealing layer, a reinforcement, and a sealing layer are provided inthe stated order between the first base layer and the second base layer.

In the pouch according to the second embodiment, the communication partmay include a slit.

In the pouch according to the second embodiment, the communication partmay include the slit connected to the hole, and a notch connecting theslit and the outer edge of the pouch.

In the pouch according to the second embodiment, the communication partmay be contiguous with a top end of the hole.

In the pouch according to the second embodiment, the communication partmay be located in the middle portion of the outer edge of the pouch in adirection in which the first edge extends.

The second embodiment makes it possible to provide a pouch that makes itpossible to save labor associated with putting the pouch on display.

The second embodiment is described below in specific detail. In thefollowing description and figures to which reference is made in thefollowing description, features that can be configured in a mannersimilar to the first embodiment described above are designated by thesame reference signs as those used for the corresponding features in theembodiment described above, and overlapping descriptions are omitted. Ifit is obvious that modifications provide the same operational effects asthose provided by the embodiment described above, descriptions of suchoperational effects are omitted in some cases.

FIG. 51A is a front view of the pouch 10 as seen from the first face 1.FIG. 513 is a back view of the pouch 10 as seen from the second face 2.For the pouch illustrated in FIGS. 51A and 51B, components other thanthe communication part 5 are identical to those of the pouch illustratedin FIGS. 1A and 13.

The communication part 5 connects the hole 4 and the outer edge of thepouch 10 located opposite to the containment part 8, and penetrates thepouch 10. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 51A and 51B, thecommunication part 5 penetrates the pouch 10 from the first face 1 tothe second face 2, and is provided so as to connect the first edge 11and the hole 4. More specifically, the communication part 5 is a slitextending from the first edge 11 to the hole 4.

As with the first embodiment, the hole 4 is positioned such that itsentire periphery is surrounded by the reinforcing part 21 a. As a resultof the entire periphery of the hole 4 being surrounded by thereinforcing part 21 a, the thickness of the reinforcing part 21 a aroundthe periphery of the hole 4 is greater than the thicknesses of otherportions of the second region 20. This leads to increased strengtharound the periphery of the hole 4. This helps to prevent or inhibittearing of the periphery of the hole 4 caused by the weight of the pouch10 exerted on the support 71 of the hanging implement 70.

As described above, the communication part 5 is provided so as toconnect the first edge 11 and the hole 4. Consequently, by passing thesupport 71 through the communication part 5, the support 71 can beplaced within the hole 4, This eliminates the need to pass the distalend of the support 71 through the hole 4, which significantly saveslabor associated with putting the pouch 10 on display.

The reinforcing part 21 a has a layer structure identical to the layerstructure of the reinforcing part 21 a according to the first embodimentor its modifications described above. That is, the reinforcing part 21 amay have any one of the layer structures a) to c) below.

a) first base layer/sealing layer/second base layer

b) first base layer/sealing layer/base layer/base layer/sealinglayer/second base layer

c) first base layer/sealing layer/reinforcement/sealing layer/secondbase layer

(Modifications of Hole and Communication Part)

Reference is now made to modifications of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5. FIGS. 52A to 52E are each a partial enlarged viewof the region indicated by reference sign G and enclosed by an alternatelong and two short dashes line in FIG. 51A. In each of FIGS. 52A to 52E,the illustration on the left depicts the above-mentioned region with thesupport 71 not inserted, and the illustration on the right depicts theabove-mentioned region with the support 71 inserted, FIG. 52A depictsthe configuration illustrated in FIG. 51A in which the communicationpart 5 is a slit. In this case, the spacing between the first line 5 xand the second line 5 y of the communication part 5 is substantiallyzero.

FIGS. 52B to 52E depict modifications of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5. In the example illustrated in FIG. 52B, unlike inthe case of FIG. 52A, the communication part 5 is the notch 5 e.Specifically, in the communication part 5 illustrated in FIG. 52B, thespacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y is greaterthan zero. The spacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5y may be constant. The spacing between the first line 5 x and the secondline 5 y may be set to any suitable value not exceeding the maximumwidth of the corresponding support 71. If the communication part 5illustrated in FIG. 52A and the communication part 5 illustrated in FIG.52B are compared, the communication part 5 in the form of the slitillustrated in FIG. 52A is able to withstand a longer duration ofhanging than is the communication part 5 in the form of the notchillustrated in FIG. 52B.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 52C, the hole 4 and the communicationpart 5 are disposed adjacent to each other in a direction parallel tothe first edge 11. In FIG. 52C, the location (boundary) where the hole 4and the communication part 5 connect with each other is indicated by adashed line that extends vertically. Accordingly, in FIG. 52C, the hole4 is located on the left-hand side of the dashed line, and thecommunication part 5 is located on the right-hand side of the dashedline. In the example in FIG. 52C, the hole 4 has a shape bounded by thedashed boundary, a circular arc in a lower portion of the hole 4, andtwo straight sides extending diagonally upward from left and rightportions of the hole 4. The point of intersection of the two straightsides extending diagonally upward from left and right portions of thehole 4 is the top end of the hole 4. The communication part 5 has ashape bounded by the dashed boundary, a circular arc in a lower portionof the communication part 5, and two straight sides having constantspacing therebetween and extending to the first edge 11, In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 52C, the top end of the hole 4 is located above thetop end of the location where the hole 4 and the communication part 5connect with each other (indicated by the vertically extending dashedline in FIG. 52C).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 52D, the communication part 5includes the notch 5 e including a portion where the spacing between thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y decreases with increasingdistance from the first edge 11 toward the hole 4. Specifically, in thecommunication part 5 illustrated in FIG. 52D, the spacing between thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y decreases with increasingproximity to the hole 4, and becomes zero at the point of connectionwith the hole 4. That is, the communication part 5 is a notch in theshape of a triangle with a base parallel to the first edge 11 and anapex located at the point of connection with the hole 4.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 52E, the communication part 5includes a vertically extending slit that connects the triangular notchillustrated in the example in FIG. 52D and the hole 4. That is, in theexample illustrated in FIG. 52E, the communication part 5 includes thenotch 5 e where the spacing between the first line 5 x and the secondline 5 y decreases with increasing distance from the first edge 11toward the hole 4, and the slit 5 d connecting the notch 5 e and thehole 4. Although the length of the slit 5 d in this case is notparticularly limited, from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture andstrength of the location where the slit is provided, the length of theslit 5 d is preferably about 1 to 5 mm, optimally about 3 mm. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 52E, the communication part 5 includes thetriangular notch 5 e and the vertically extending slit 5 d as describedabove. In this regard, two sides of the triangular notch that connect tothe first edge 11 can be also regarded as an outer edge of the pouch 10that extends contiguously from the first edge 11. In this case, thecommunication part 5 includes only the slit 5 d that connects the outeredge of the pouch and the hole 4.

(Modification of Hole)

Reference is now made to a modification of the hole 4. FIGS. 53A to 53Dare each a partial enlarged view of the region indicated by referencesign G and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 51A. As in the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 21 mentionedabove, the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B that are located in the area overlapping the hole 4 may beleft to remain while being coupled to the second region 20 locatedaround the periphery of the hole 4. That is, the portion 4 a of eachpackaging material that overlaps the hole 4 may be coupled via thecoupling part 4 z to the second region 20 located around the peripheryof the hole 4.

The shapes of the communication part 5 in FIGS. 53A, 5313, 53C, and 53Dare respectively identical to the shapes of the communication part 5 inFIGS. 52A, 52B, 52D, and 52E. According to modifications illustrated inFIGS. 53A to 53D, hanging of the pouch 10 involves passing the support71 through the communication part 5, and pushing, at the top end of thehole 4, a portion including a base layer and a sealing layer from abovewith the support 71 to thereby insert the support 71 into the hole 4.

(Other Modifications)

The characteristic features of the first embodiment and itsmodifications described above, and the characteristic features of thesecond embodiment and its modifications described above may be combinedas appropriate.

For example, the hole 4 and the communication part 5 according to thesecond embodiment and each of its modifications may be combined with themodifications of the pouch illustrated in FIGS. 29 to 37, may becombined with the lidded container 17 illustrated in each of FIGS. 42 to45, or may be combined with the tube 18 illustrated in each of FIGS. 46and 47.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is directed to providing a pouch that makes itpossible to save labor associated with putting the pouch on display.

To this end, the third embodiment provides a pouch having a containmentpart formed by joining a first packaging material and a second packagingmaterial together, the first packaging material being located at a firstface of the pouch, the second packaging material being located at asecond face of the pouch, the pouch including:

a hole located in a corner portion of the pouch and penetrating thepouch;

a reinforcing part provided to include the hole; and

a communication part extending from the hole to an outer edge of thepouch and penetrating the pouch,

wherein the first packaging material includes a first base layer, and afirst sealant layer,

wherein the second packaging material includes a second base layer, anda second sealant layer, and

wherein the reinforcing part has any one of configurations a) to c)below.

a) A sealing layer with a thickness of greater than or equal to 100 μmis provided between the first base layer and the second base layer,

b) A sealing layer, a base layer, a base layer, a sealing layer, and asealing layer are provided in the stated order between the first baselayer and the second base layer.

c) A sealing layer, a reinforcement, and a sealing layer are provided inthe stated order between the first base layer and the second base layer.

In the pouch according to the third embodiment, the communication partmay include a slit.

In the pouch according to the third embodiment, the communication partmay include the slit connected to the hole, and a notch connecting theslit and the outer edge of the pouch.

In the pouch according to the third embodiment, the communication partmay be contiguous with a top end of the hole.

In the pouch according to the third embodiment, the communication partmay connect a portion of the outer edge of the pouch other than thecorner portion, and the hole.

The third embodiment makes it possible to provide a pouch that makes itpossible to save labor associated with putting the pouch on display.

The third embodiment is described below in specific detail. In thefollowing description and figures to which reference is made in thefollowing description, features that can be configured in a mannersimilar to the first embodiment described above are designated by thesame reference signs as those used for the corresponding features in theembodiment described above, and overlapping descriptions are omitted. Inthe following description, when it is obvious that modifications providethe same operational effects as those provided by the embodimentdescribed above, descriptions of such operational effects are omitted insome cases.

FIG. 54A is a front view of the pouch 10 as seen from the first face 1.FIG. 54B is a back view of the pouch 10 as seen from the second face 2.For the pouch illustrated in FIGS. 54A and 54B, components other thanthe hole 4 and the communication part 5 are identical to those of thepouch illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The hole 4 is provided in a corner portion of the pouch 10, A cornerportion of the pouch 10 refers to the region indicated by reference signH and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG.54A. The corner portion includes the corner where the first edge 11 andthe fourth edge 14 meet, and an area in the vicinity of the corner.

The communication part 5 connects a top end 10U of the pouch 10 and thehole 4, and penetrates the pouch 10. The top end 10U is the point ofintersection of the first edge 11 and the fourth edge 14, and is acorner of the pouch 10. In the example in FIGS. 54A and 54B, thecommunication part 5 is a slit extending from the top end 10U to thehole 4.

As with the first embodiment, the hole 4 is positioned such that itsentire periphery is surrounded by the reinforcing part 21 a. As a resultof the entire periphery of the hole 4 being surrounded by thereinforcing part 21 a, the thickness of the reinforcing part 21 a aroundthe periphery of the hole 4 is greater than the thicknesses of otherportions of the second region 20. This leads to increased strengtharound the periphery of the hole 4. This helps to prevent or inhibittearing of the periphery of the hole 4 caused by the weight of the pouch10 exerted on the support 71 of the hanging implement 70.

As described above, the communication part 5 is provided so as toconnect the top end 10U and the hole 4, Consequently, by passing thesupport 71 through the communication part 5, the support 71 can beplaced within the hole 4. This eliminates the need to pass the distalend of the support 71 through the hole 4, which significantly saveslabor associated with putting the pouch 10 on display.

The reinforcing part 21 a has a layer structure identical to the layerstructure of the reinforcing part 21 a according to the first embodimentor its modifications described above. That is, the reinforcing part 21 amay have any one of the layer structures a) to c) below.

a) first base layer/sealing layer/second base layer

b) first base layer/sealing layer/base layer/base layer/sealinglayer/second base layer

c) first base layer/sealing layer/reinforcement/sealing layer/secondbase layer

(Modifications of Hole and Communication Part)

Reference is now made to modifications of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5. FIGS. 55A to 55D are each a partial enlarged viewof the region indicated by reference sign H and enclosed by an alternatelong and two short dashes line in FIG. 54A. In each of FIGS. 55A to 55D,the illustration on the left depicts the above-mentioned region with thesupport 71 not inserted, and the illustration on the right depicts theabove-mentioned region with the support 71 inserted. FIG. 55A depictsthe configuration illustrated in FIG. 54A in which the communicationpart 5 is a slit. In this case, the spacing between the first line 5 xand the second line 5 y of the communication part 5 is substantiallyzero.

FIGS. 55B to 55D depict modifications of the hole 4 and thecommunication part 5. In the example illustrated in FIG. 55B, unlike inthe case of FIG. 55A, the communication part 5 is the notch 5 e.Specifically, in the communication part 5 illustrated in FIG. 55B, thespacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y is greaterthan zero. The spacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5y may be constant. The spacing between the first line 5 x and the secondline 5 y may be set to any suitable value not exceeding the maximumwidth of the corresponding support 71. If the communication part 5illustrated in FIG. 55A and the communication part 5 illustrated in FIG.55B are compared, the communication part 5 in the form of the slitillustrated in FIG. 55A is able to withstand a longer duration ofhanging than is the communication part 5 in the form of the notchillustrated in FIG. 55B.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 55C, the communication part 5includes the notch 5 e including a portion where the spacing between thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y decreases with increasingdistance from the first edge 11 toward the hole 4. Specifically, in thecommunication part 5 illustrated in FIG. 55C, the spacing between thefirst line 5 x and the second line 5 y decreases with increasingproximity to the hole 4, and becomes zero at the point of connectionwith the hole 4. That is, the communication part 5 is a notch in theshape of a triangle with a base and an apex, the base being a sideextending in a direction (left-right direction in FIG. 54A) transverseto a direction in which the containment part 8 and the hole 4 areconnected, the apex being located at the point of connection with thehole 4.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 55D, the communication part 5includes a slit that connects the triangular notch illustrated in theexample in FIG. 55C and the hole 4. That is, in the example illustratedin FIG. 55D, the communication part 5 includes the notch Se where thespacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y decreaseswith increasing distance from the outer edge of the pouch 10 toward thehole 4, and the slit 5 d connecting the notch Se and the hole 4.Although the length of the slit 5 d in this case is not particularlylimited, from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture and strength of thelocation where the slit is provided, the length of the slit 5 d ispreferably about 1 to 5 mm, optimally about 3 mm.

(Modifications of Hole)

Reference is now made to modifications of the hole 4. FIGS. 56A to 56Dare each a partial enlarged view of the region indicated by referencesign H and enclosed by an alternate long and two short dashes line inFIG. 54A. As in the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 21 mentionedabove, the first packaging material 30A and the second packagingmaterial 30B that are located in the area overlapping the hole 4 may beleft to remain while being coupled to the second region 20 locatedaround the periphery of the hole 4. That is, the portion 4 a of eachpackaging material that overlaps the hole 4 may be coupled via thecoupling part 4 z to the second region 20 located around the peripheryof the hole 4.

The shapes of the communication part 5 in FIGS. 56A, 563, 56C, and 56Dare respectively identical to the shapes of the communication part 5 inFIGS. 55A, 553, 55D, and 55E. According to modifications illustrated inFIGS. 56A to 56D, hanging of the pouch 10 involves passing the support71 through the communication part 5, and pushing, at the top end of thehole 4, a portion including a base layer and a sealing layer from abovewith the support 71 to thereby insert the support 71 into the hole 4.

(Modification of Communication Part)

The communication part 5 may be formed to extend contiguously to thehole 4 from a portion of the outer edge of the pouch 10 other than acorner portion. FIGS. 57A and 57B are respectively a front view and aback view of the pouch 10 including the communication part 5 accordingto a modification. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 57A and 573, thehole 4 has a polygonal shape. The communication part 5 is a notchextending from the first edge 11 to the hole 4. In FIGS. 57A and 57B,the boundary between the hole 4 and the communication part 5 isindicated by a dashed line. The spacing between the first line 5 x andthe second line 5 y may be substantially constant from the first edge 11to the hole 4. The spacing between the first line 5 x and the secondline 5 y may be greater than or equal to the width of the hole 4. If thespacing between the first line 5 x and the second line 5 y is greaterthan or equal to the width of the hole 4, the support 71 can be easilyinserted into the hole 4 from the first edge 11, In the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 57A and 57B, in hanging the pouch 10, the support71 is passed through the communication part 5 from the first edge 11 tothereby insert the support 71 into the hole 4 from the left side.

(Other Modifications)

The characteristic features of the first embodiment and itsmodifications described above, and the characteristic features of thethird embodiment and its modifications described above may be combinedas appropriate.

For example, the hole 4 and the communication part 5 according to thethird embodiment and its modifications may be combined with themodifications of the pouch illustrated in FIGS. 29 to 37, may becombined with the lidded container 17 illustrated in each of FIGS. 42 to45, or may be combined with the tube 18 illustrated in each of FIGS. 46and 47. FIGS. 58A and 58B are respectively a front view and a back viewof a pillow pouch that employs the hole 4 and the communication part 5according to the third embodiment and its modifications.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 first face    -   2 second face    -   4 hole    -   5 communication part    -   5 a first portion    -   5 b second portion    -   5 c curved portion    -   5 x first line    -   5 y second line    -   5 z middle line    -   6 joint    -   7 fin seal part    -   7 a base portion    -   7 b distal end portion    -   8 containment part    -   9 opening    -   10 pouch    -   10U top end    -   11 first edge    -   12 second edge    -   13 third edge    -   14 fourth edge    -   15 easy-opening means    -   15 a slit    -   16 zipper tape    -   17 lidded container    -   17 a lid    -   17 b container    -   17 c flange    -   18 tube    -   18 a body part    -   18 b mouth part    -   18 c cap    -   19 first region    -   20 second region    -   21 first-edge seal    -   21 a reinforcing part    -   21 b outer-edge-side seal    -   21 c containment-part-side seal    -   22 second-edge seal    -   23 third-edge seal    -   24 fourth-edge seal    -   30 packaging material    -   30A first packaging material    -   30B second packaging material    -   51 first base layer    -   52 second base layer    -   53 first additional layer    -   54 second additional layer    -   55 reinforcement    -   56 base layer    -   57 sealant layer    -   61 first sealant layer    -   62 second sealant layer    -   65 first bonding layer    -   66 second bonding layer    -   67 third bonding layer    -   68 fourth bonding layer    -   70 hanging implement    -   71 support    -   72 restraint part    -   73 fixed part    -   80 specimen    -   85 measuring instrument    -   86 first clamp    -   87 second clamp    -   D1 first direction    -   D2 second direction

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A lidded container, the lidded container having acontainment part sealed by joining a first packaging material and asecond packaging material together, the first packaging materialconstituting a lid, the second packaging material constituting acontainer, the lidded container comprising: a first region overlappingthe containment part in plan view; a second region located between thecontainment part and an outer edge of each of the lid and the containerin plan view, the second region including a seal that joins the firstpackaging material and the second packaging material together; a holelocated in the second region and penetrating the first packagingmaterial and the second packaging material; and a communication partextending from the hole to the outer edge of each of the lid and thecontainer and penetrating the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material, wherein the first packaging material includes atleast one layer located in both the first region and the second region,wherein the second packaging material includes at least one layerlocated in both the first region and the second region, wherein anoutline of the communication part that extends from the hole to theouter edge of each of the lid and the container includes a first lineand a second line, and wherein the communication part includes a firstportion including a portion where the first line and the second linehave a spacing from each other that decreases with increasing distancefrom the outer edge of each of the lid and the container toward thehole, and a second portion located between the first portion and thehole and including a portion where the first line and the second linehave a spacing from each other of less than or equal to 2.0 mm.
 9. Thelidded container according to claim 8, wherein a specimen cut out from aportion of the second region where the hole is located has a meanflexural rigidity of greater than or equal to 15 [g·cm²/cm] in a machinedirection, the specimen including at least the first packaging materialand the second packaging material. 10-11. (canceled)
 12. The liddedcontainer according to claim 8, wherein in the second portion of thecommunication part, the first line and the second line are not incontact with each other.
 13. The lidded container according to claim 8,wherein in the second portion of the communication part, the first lineand the second line are at least partially in contact with each other.14. The lidded container according to claim 13, wherein a portion of thecommunication part where the first line and the second line are not incontact with each other is longer than a portion of the communicationpart where the first line and the second line are in contact with eachother.
 15. The lidded container according to claim 8, wherein a middleline linearly extends from the hole toward the outer edge of each of thelid and the container, the middle line running in the middle between thefirst line and the second line.
 16. The lidded container according toclaim 8, wherein each of the first line and the second line includes astraight portion extending from the first portion to the second portion.17. The lidded container according to claim 16, wherein the straightportion of each of the first line and the second line extends from thehole to the outer edge of each of the lid and the container.
 18. Thelidded container according to claim 16, wherein an extension line of thestraight portion of each of the first line and the second lineintersects the hole.
 19. The lidded container according to claim 16,wherein each of the first line and the second line includes a straightline inclined relative to a middle line, the middle line running in themiddle between the first line and the second line.